Daily Sun (February 27) - THERE were bullets flying everywhere.
"I couldn't believe that anybody survived," said Sam, who witnessed the action.
IT LOOKED LIKE A SCENE FROM A GANGSTER MOVIE, HE SAID.
What Sam Khambule (31) from Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni witnessed on Wednesday was only part of a drama that started on Tuesday when Thato Maphela (32) was shot.
Thato, from extension 7, was out on bail, facing three charges of business robbery.
According to Vosloorus police spokesman, Captain Piet Rossouw, there was a possibility that Thato was going to turn state witness in all the cases and he may have been killed to shut him up.
Rossouw said cops acted on a tip-off and found the man suspected of Thato's murder boarding a taxi. They chased after the taxi and instructed the driver to stop.
Sam, watching from a distance, said: "I saw the cops following the taxi. There were cop cars all over the place and they cornered the taxi."
That's when the shooting started.
"A man sitting in the second row opened fire on the cops and cops with rifles returned fire," said Sam.
"The sound of gunfire was coming from every direction."
He said the driver of the taxi jumped out and lay on the ground while two men stayed in the taxi.
"I thought they were dead. One of the cops screamed and ordered the suspects to come out," he said.
"When there was no response, a cop went to the taxi and opened the door, pulling one of the passengers outside. Then the other man got out as well."
Miraculously no one was killed and only one man was shot. Captain Rossouw said the wounded man was taken to hospital, where he is under police guard.
He is facing charges of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.
Rossouw said the driver and the other occupant were questioned by cops and they were released. He said the investigation into Thato's murder was still continuing.
Thato's father, Katiso Matee, said the family still want to know why Thato had to die.
"We only found out on Wednesday that my son was assassinated. We are leaving the matter to the cops but we want justice," he said.
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