The City of Johannesburg (COJ) chief whip Sithembiso Zungu has been injured in a shooting that claimed the life of a Rand Water executive yesterday.

The COJ speaker Margaret Arnolds confirmed this in a statement. "We wish to alert the residents of the City of Johannesburg metropolitan municipality that the chief whip of council, Sithembiso Zungu, was this morning injured in a shooting that occurred in the south of Johannesburg," she said. Arnolds said Zungu was attending to official council business and is currently receiving medical attention. "Further details on the incident will be communicated at a later stage once they are available. I urge residents to refrain from sharing unconfirmed reports. The private office of the speaker will, at an appropriate time, give a detailed media statement, "she added. Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said several suspects entered the hall and opened fire before fleeing. She said two people were declared dead on the scene, while three others were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. "The motive of the shooting is unknown at this stage," Nevhuhulwi added.

Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo also confirmed that their executive was fatally shot in the incident. "Rand Water sadly confirms a tragic incident that claimed the life of an executive on Monday, January 29. As an organisation, we are shocked and devastated by the tragic passing of our treasured colleague after a tragic incident that occurred at Rand Water's Back to School campaign at Zakarriya Park Community Centre. Rand Water's policy prohibits the organisation from releasing the employee's name without the family's consent, "said Maroo,adding that the water utility does not have further details but is working closely with investigators as they assess and investigate the tragic incident. "We will be providing updates as they are released to us."Joburg mayor Kabelo Gwamanda extended his condolences to the families of the two people killed and wished Zungu and the two other victims a speedy recovery. "To have such a tragic incident occur in broad daylight and the presence of community members and children is beyond one's comprehension and belief. The senseless killing of people and officials must be brought to an end as a matter of urgency," Gwamanda said.