A brazen afternoon attack on a bus traveling from Johannesburg has left six people dead and 18 others wounded, according to police. The incident, which unfolded on a road in Meyerton, south of Johannesburg, ended with the arrest of three suspects following a high-speed chase and a multi-unit police operation.
Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Fred Kekana provided a detailed account of the violence at a chaotic scene briefing attended by media. Commissioner Kekana stated the attack began when a bus, en route from Johannesburg’s Park Station to Lesotho, was accosted by a white Nissan Juke.
“The vehicle they were shooting at them,” Kekana said. “They started shooting at the vehicle, the kombi, unprovoked.”
The bus driver, in an attempt to evade the gunfire, reportedly tried to force the attackers off the road. During the confrontation, the Juke crossed a small bridge. The suspects then abandoned their vehicle, climbed onto the bridge, and hijacked another car from a female driver.
The break in the case came when members of a K9 unit and a vehicle crime investigation unit, driving past in unmarked vehicles, witnessed the hijacking in progress.
“They saw a lady screaming. They asked what happened. She pointed the vehicle which she was driving that she was just being hijacked. They followed up,” Commissioner Kekana explained.
A chase ensued into the Clewer area, where the hijacked vehicle landed in a ditch. The three suspects fled on foot but were swiftly apprehended with the aid of drones, a helicopter, and police dogs.
A preliminary investigation revealed the Nissan Juke used in the initial attack had been reported stolen in Witbank in September 2025.
The human toll of the attack is severe. Commissioner Kekana confirmed the six deceased were four women and two men. All 18 injured individuals, who were on the bus, are currently receiving hospital treatment. The police stated the injuries were sustained both from gunfire and from the bus rolling during the driver’s evasive maneuvers.
“Currently six people, four females lost their lives unfortunately and two males also lost their lives. Eighteen people are currently in hospital under treatment,” said Kekana.
He praised the coordinated response from multiple law enforcement agencies, including local police from Meyerton station, private security, crime prevention wardens, public order policing, and the vehicle theft unit, which led to the swift arrests.
“The scene is still on. Our forensic team is still on the ground processing the scene to ensure that the job is done thoroughly,” the Commissioner added.
When asked if police members acted swiftly, Commissioner Kekana responded, “Yeah, excellently,” citing their alertness and vigilance. “It’s unfortunate we lost six lives but they’ll have to go and face justice.”
The motive for the attack is under investigation. The three suspects are expected to face a litany of charges including murder, attempted murder, hijacking, and possession of a stolen vehicle.