POLICE today said the man who had been killed in yesterday’s alleged road rage incident in Chatsworth, had avoided a pothole when he knocked against the side mirror of a white double cab.
The occupants of the vehicle then opened fire on Govender’s vehicle, killing him and seriously wounding two others.
Brandon "Spikes" Govender, 35, was driving a white minibus at the time of the incident, which occurred near the Moorton off-ramp, on Higginson Highway.
Govender and two co-workers, from a newspaper company in Pinetown, were returning home after a night shift.
The occupants of the double cab allegedly opened fire on the minibus after the accident, killing Govender and seriously injuring his co-workers.
“It has been reported that a 35-year-old driver of a staff motor vehicle attempted to avoid a pothole when he hit another motor vehicle's side mirror," said Robert Netshiunda, a KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson.
"The driver of the motor vehicle which was bumped into, followed the offending driver and there was a shooting. Two people from the staff motor vehicle were wounded and one was killed.
"The two victims were transported to hospital, where they are in a stable condition. The suspects, who were traveling in a white double cab, fled from the scene of the crime."
He said the Chatsworth police were investigating two cases of attempted murder and one of murder.
Yugen Pillay, the chairperson of the Chatsworth Community Policing Forum (CPF), said they were saddened that a minor accident had escalated to an extent where a young man had been killed.
“If what the police are saying is true, it doesn't make sense as to why the men in the double cab would be quick to open fire after a minor accident. There's more to this case.
"The CPF does not know the merits of the case as yet, but we advise road users to remain calm in situations they may find themselves in.
“If you meet with an accident, no matter what it is, if the driver becomes angry, it is best to ignore the person and drive away. Drive to a police station and file a report if it is a serious matter or an accident,” said Pillay.
“We can confirm that this was not a case of a drive-by shooting, and was an isolated incident. People need to take a step back and inspect how they react in situations.
"Frustrations can be high, especially while navigating through traffic and potholes on most of the roads. If the potholes were fixed timeously, this incident would never have happened and the young man might still be alive,” Pillay added.
Govender's funeral is scheduled for today.