A deadly shooting in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, has compelled Wits University to issue a statement clarifying its connection to the incident.
Wits University clears the air on student murder
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Amid the chaos that ensued, on Thursday afternoon, initial reports mistakenly associated the university directly with the victims.
The tertiary, in a recent clarification, confirmed that while the violence tragically affected the broader community, no students or staff of the institution were among those fatally injured.
In response to the shooting, Wits University has taken immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of its campus.
Measures include the deployment of Campus Protection Services (CPS) to assist emergency services and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), which are actively investigating the scene.
The university also advised its community to use alternative routes due to road closures on Jorissen Street between Station Street and Bertha Street, and Bertha Street between DeKorte Street and Ameshoff Street.
What’s the latest on Braamfontein shooting?
The Braamfontein shooting incident that took place on Thursday, 29 February 2024, has gripped Johannesburg.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the shooting resulted in the death of three individuals, including a student who was inadvertently caught in the crossfire.
The violent episode is suspected to be linked to a dispute within the taxi industry, a theory that is still under investigation by the authorities.
Eyewitness reports and police statements reveal that the shooting occurred when unknown assailants opened fire on two men sitting in a parked vehicle.
The attack not only claimed the lives of the men targeted but also led to the injury of two students, one of whom later succumbed to their injuries.
The other student was promptly taken to a hospital for medical treatment.
As the community reels from the shock, SAPS has opened cases of murder and attempted murder, though no arrests have been made yet.