A suspected assassination attempt has rocked South Africa’s political landscape after gunmen opened fire on the convoy of Deputy President Paul Mashatile along the N12 highway near Boksburg.
The attack took place shortly after Mashatile had attended an ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel. As his security convoy made its way back from the gathering, unidentified gunmen sprayed bullets at his official bulletproof vehicle, with several rounds hitting the windscreen.
Mashatile was inside the car during the attack but miraculously escaped without injury. His spokesperson, Keith Khoza, confirmed the incident, stating: “We can confirm that there was an incident in which the car of the deputy president was hit.”
Preliminary findings suggest at least 12 bullet casings were found at the scene, though the final number of shots is yet to be confirmed.
In response, the South African Police Service has teamed up with the Presidential Protection Unit to investigate the attempted hit. While no suspects have been apprehended and the motive remains unclear, officials have assured the public that the matter is being treated with utmost urgency.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of government leaders and the broader implications of political violence in the country.
