Mpumalanga farm hostage: Gunman kills one, wounds another and shoots himself
Police are investigating the hostage incident while murder and kidnapping cases have been opened.
A 55-year-old man opened fire, killing one individual and critically injuring another on a farm in Mpumalanga on Saturday. He subsequently took his own life during police negotiations. Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, a police spokesperson, disclosed that this occurred in the Gert Sibande District. Early on Saturday morning, the police received an alarm about a hostage situation on the farm.
Upon arrival, officers discovered three survivors who had managed to escape. The victims reported that the 55-year-old armed suspect held them captive. The suspect then left the farm workers behind and returned to his residence on the property. He allegedly shot one victim, believed to be around 50 years old, fatally, and another, around 53, severely, leaving him for dead.
Despite the injuries, the second man survived and was airlifted to the hospital for urgent medical care. Attempts to resolve the situation through peaceful negotiations were unsuccessful. Police sent a team of hostage negotiators and additional resources to the farm, but the suspect eventually took his own life while still under discussion.
Police found a 9mm pistol at the scene. The Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise, expressed concern over the incident and urged the public to report any suspicious firearm activity. She warned that firearms misused or used unlawfully contribute to violent crime and the loss of lives. Modise called upon citizens to support the authorities by reporting any concerning behavior promptly, before any more lives are lost.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
