/ 26 October 2007

Durban shootings leave one dead, two hurt

One person has died and two others were seriously injured in separate shootings in Durban late on Thursday night, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Friday.

Spokesperson Superintendent Danelia Veldhuizen said detectives were investigating the possibility that two of the shootings — which took place in the Hillcrest area — could have been linked.

”In both incidents a white taxi was involved … we are uncertain if it was the same taxi in both incidents,” she said.

In one of the incidents a woman was driving in Hillcrest when a taxi bumped her car from behind.

”She stopped to have a word with the taxi driver … but the occupants in the taxi opened fire,” said Veldhuizen.

The woman survived and is recovering at a local hospital. A case of attempted murder case was opened.

In the second Hillcrest incident, a 17-year-old school boy was shot when occupants of a white minibus taxi opened fire on him. He survived.

Police are investigating a third incident in West Riding, where a man was shot and killed.

”His body was found lying on a road.”

No further details were available. – Sapa