A 47-year-old man is scheduled to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The suspect faces charges of attempted murder and discharging a firearm in a municipal area.
This follows an alarming episode where he allegedly shot at his ex-girlfriend, fortunately missing her.
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According to police reports, the incident occurred on Wednesday midday. The suspect had asked his ex-girlfriend to accompany him to Rustenburg town using her car.
Upon their return, he requested a detour to her brother’s residence in Boitekong, north of Rustenburg. While the exact cause of the argument between them was not disclosed, an altercation ensued, during which the suspect allegedly took out his firearm and shot at the victim. Luckily, she managed to escape into the street, where she encountered a police officer.
While the victim sought help from the police, her brother intervened and temporarily confiscated the suspect’s firearm. The suspect eventually calmed down, prompting the brother to return the firearm.
The suspect then fled the scene before the police arrived. His rampage continued at a local bottle store where he intimidated patrons and pointed his firearm at innocent bystanders.
Community members overpowered and disarmed him yet again, subsequently assaulting him. The police arrived on the scene, and the suspect, along with his firearm, was handed over to them.
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North West Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Sello Kwena commended the community for refraining from taking the law into their own hands and for safely surrendering the suspect to the police.
He reiterated the importance for firearm owners to comply with the Firearm Control Act, Act 60 of 2000. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries or fatalities from the incident.
