War on Jo'burg Streets

A bloody shoot-out between taxis occurred this afternoon in several areas of Johannesburg. The most serious shoot-out occurred at the Bree Street taxi rank in the Johannesburg CBD where six people were seriously injured.

At approximately 12h47 this afternoon paramedics treated a man next to the Christiaan De Wet bridge in Roodepoort for a gunshot to his abdomen.

Moments later, paramedics were called out to Christiaan De Wet Road for another shooting. This time two females. aged 24 and 23, were shot by people allegedly driving passed a taxi they were travelling in. The 24 year old sustained serious injuries when one of the bullets went into her chest. The 23 year old was shot in the face. Both of these patients were transported in a serious condition to the Helen Joseph Hospital.

Paramedics also received reports of a taxi shoot-out at the corners of Hendrik Potgieter and Doreen Roads. At this stage we cannot confirm how many people were injured in this incident. At approximately 12h59 paramedics were called out to assist with another taxi shooting on the corners of Hendrik Potgieter and Albert Streets. Two people were shot at this intersection, but were already removed to a nearby hospital by bystanders when paramedics arrived.

At approximately 13h15 paramedics were again, called out to the Bree Street Taxi Rank where absolute chaos broke loose. Six people were shot in a huge shoot-out between taxis. Paramedics arrived on scene, escorted by police, only to find that people laid scattered down the road next to the taxi rank. An elderly male had a gunshot wound in his chest and had no pulse or breathing at the time.

Paramedics from ER24 and NetCare applied effective CPR and managed to get a pulse back. The man was stabilized and transported to the Queen Elizabeth Bridge where he was airlifted by helicopter to the Baragwanath Hospital. Unfortunately he died on arrival at hospital.

Five other people, amongst them one lady, were treated for serious gunshot wounds. Most of them were shot in the chest, abdominal area and head. They were all stabilized on scene and rushed off to nearby hospitals. Paramedics had no reports of any fatalities on any of the scenes.

Whilst paramedics were busy assisting patients at the Bree Street Taxi Rank, ER24 received another emergency call out for patients that have been shot by taxis on the corners of Beyers Naude and Christiaan De Wet Drives. Paramedics, however could not find any injured people at this intersection, but police activity was present.

Photos: Werner Beukes & Werner Vermaak