KWAZULU-NATAL — Two individuals escaped unharmed following a violent Ndwedwe e-hailing ambush late Tuesday, surviving a coordinated hail of gunfire by pretending to be dead inside their disabled vehicle.
The deadly encounter unfolded at approximately 23:15 on June 23, 2026, along the Ndwedwe Main Road in the vicinity of Sebenzele High School. Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) emergency responders were urgently dispatched to the location after receiving reports of active gunfire in the area.
According to statements provided by the victims, their ordeal began well before the actual shooting. The pair was operating a white Toyota Rumion as an e-hailing cab, navigating a route from Hazelmere toward Mona. Their journey took a sinister turn when they spotted a Hyundai SUV shadowing their movements. The pursuit reportedly originated near a local tuckshop situated in the Pholopholo precinct.
The attack itself was a highly calculated, multi-directional strike. Scene reports reveal that as the targeted vehicle drove past, a hidden gunman armed with a rifle opened fire from thick, dense vegetation situated right next to the roadway. This initial volley served as a signal; simultaneously, the passengers inside the trailing Hyundai SUV unleashed a barrage of handgun fire. Information gathered at the scene indicates the attackers deployed a total of three firearms: one rifle and two 9mm pistols.
The sheer volume of fire left the white Toyota Rumion heavily battered. Gunshot perforations were found across the windscreen, bonnet, boot, doors, and multiple tyres. The vehicle was ultimately brought to a halt only after one of its tyres was completely destroyed by the gunfire. Trapped in the line of fire, the two occupants made the split-second decision to remain inside the bullet-riddled cabin and feign death. Their tactic worked, as the assailants eventually fled the scene, leaving the victims physically unharmed.
Law enforcement officials have launched an investigation into the incident, though the exact motive behind this targeted attack remains unestablished at this stage.
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