Bravery and Bloodshed: Bus Driver Foils Attack as Six Die in R59 Mass Shooting

A routine bus journey from Johannesburg to Lesotho turned into a scene of carnage and courage on Tuesday when gunmen opened fire on the vehicle along the R59 near Meyerton, killing six people and injuring several others. The attack, which brought the busy route to a standstill, was ultimately thwarted by the quick thinking of the bus driver, leading to the arrest of three suspects.

According to Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana, a white Nissan Juke pulled alongside the bus and its occupants began shooting without warning. In a desperate bid to save his passengers, the bus driver attempted to push the attackers’ vehicle off the road, forcing it to veer off the tarmac and ending the immediate barrage of gunfire.

A Short-Lived Escape and Swift Arrests

The three occupants fled on foot and quickly hijacked another vehicle in the area. However, their escape was cut short when police, alerted by the hijacking victim, pursued the stolen car. Two suspects were arrested in the Kliprivier area, with a third apprehended shortly after.

The R59 was closed for hours as forensic teams combed the scene, processing the damaged vehicles and gathering evidence. The road has since reopened, but the investigation into the motive and full circumstances of the attack continues.

The incident highlights both the extreme violence plaguing South Africa’s roads and the remarkable bravery of ordinary citizens. The driver’s actions likely prevented even greater loss of life, turning the attackers’ vehicle into a barricade against their own bullets. As the survivors recover and the community mourns, the swift police response offers a measure of solace, but the profound question of what prompted such a brutal, indiscriminate attack on a public bus remains unanswered.