South Africa’s Deputy President Survives Assassination Attempt in Highway Ambush

South Africa’s Deputy President Survives Assassination Attempt in Highway Ambush – South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, narrowly escaped an apparent assassination attempt after gunmen opened fire on his official bulletproof vehicle along the N12 highway.

The dramatic incident unfolded as Mashatile and his security convoy were returning from an ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.

Multiple gunshots reportedly struck the windscreen of the deputy president’s vehicle. According to his spokesperson, Keith Khoza, Mashatile was inside the car at the time of the attack. “We can confirm that there was an incident where the deputy president’s vehicle was hit,” Khoza stated.

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Forensic experts have since verified that the damage was caused by bullets, though the full circumstances remain under investigation. “The police are best positioned to speak on details, but we have confirmation from a specialist report that the impact came from gunfire,” Khoza added.

Initial reports from the scene indicate that at least 12 spent bullet casings were recovered, although the total number of shots fired has not been officially confirmed.

Fortunately, the bulletproof nature of the vehicle ensured Mashatile’s safety, and he escaped unharmed. The South African Police Service, working alongside the Presidential Protection Unit, has launched a thorough investigation into the attack.

At this stage, the attackers’ identities and motives remain unclear.

However, authorities are treating the incident as a high-priority case, with increased security measures and efforts to track down those responsible already underway.