Cop, taxi driver shot after voting

A police officer and a taxi driver were shot in separate incidents in Mpumalanga, after having returned from voting in the local government elections.

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Mbombela - A taxi driver and a police officer have been shot dead in two separate incidents after arriving at their homes from voting stations in the Kwaggafontein area in Mpumalanga, police said on Friday.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi told the African News Agency (ANA) that taxi driver Andrew Mahlangu was shot once in the head by an unknown man. He said Mahlangu had just arrived at his home in Tweefontein Ext K from a local voting station early on Wednesday evening when the man accosted him.

According to the outcome of a preliminary investigation, a vehicle was seen parked nearby Mahlangu’s home.

“The man fled on foot and Mahlangu died at the scene,” said Hlathi.

Hlathi added that Sergeant Andrew Motha, 42, was shot three times in the stomach by three unknown men after arriving home in Vlaklaagte Ext 1 from work in the early hours of Thursday morning.

He said Motha was working with other officers on voting day in Frischgewaagd Village, about 10 kilometres away from his home.

“Motha was closing the gate when three men approached and shot him,” said Hlathi. “He was certified dead on arrival at a local clinic. We don’t yet know if the two murders are related to the elections but investigations are continuing.”

Two cases of murder have been opened for investigation. No arrests have been made.

African News Agency