South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt as gunmen opened fire on his official bulletproof vehicle along the N12 highway.
The attack occurred while Mashatile was returning with his security convoy from an ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.
Eyewitnesses reported a harrowing scene as multiple gunshots pierced the calm of the highway, striking the windscreen of Mashatile’s armored vehicle.
Fortunately, the vehicle’s bulletproof design ensured the deputy president remained unharmed.
His spokesperson, Keith Khoza, confirmed the incident, stating, “We can confirm that there was an incident where the deputy president’s vehicle was hit.”
Local law enforcement has launched an immediate investigation into the attack, with authorities vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The motives behind the shooting have yet to be determined, but it has raised concerns about the safety of political figures in South Africa amid an escalating climate of violence.
