The Durban Magistrate’s Court was forced into an early closure on Wednesday, following a shooting that left three victims injured.
Durban magistrate’s court shooting: Here’s what we know
Details around the incident remain sketchy, but according to reports that surfaced on social media, chaotic scenes broke out when a hail of gunfire rung off on the corners of Somtseu and Stalwart Simelane Street on Wednesday afternoon.
In a series of tweets, renowned anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee claimed the shooting likely took place between two groups of gangs from Wentworth, a largely mixed-race suburb situated in the south Durban basin.
While the motive of the Durban Magistrate’s Court shooting has yet to be determined, reports suggest the three injured victims may have been crucial witnesses to an ongoing gang-related case.
The condition of the victims struck in the Durban Magistrate’s Court shooting remains unknown. According to reports, court staff were alerted of the shooting when one of the victims stumbled into the building with blood oozing from the left side of his body.
The magistrate’s court has since been closed off for the rest of the day, and it’s expected to reopen on Thursday.
At the time this article was published, local law enforcement authorities had cordoned off the area to collect forensic evidence and interview eyewitnesses.
The suspects involved in the shooting are believed to be at large.
This is a developing story.