MUSINA - Ethiopian immigrants were allegedly shot and wounded by members of the South African National Defence Force, after the taxi they were travelling in did not follow instructions from the soldiers. This incident occurred at the Beitbridge Border Post last Thursday.

According to Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, spokesperson of the SAPS, the six illegal immigrants from Ethiopia crossed the Limpopo River and boarded mini-buses. It is alleged that when a mini-bus did not follow instructions from soldiers manning the border post, they opened fire and wounded three of the immigrants. They were taken to the Musina hospital.

Meanwhile, it is also suspected that the soldiers used private guns, and not their standard-issue rifles. A case of attempted murder was opened against the two soldiers.

The police also opened a case of obstructing the course of justice against the commanding officer of the SANDF in the area, after it was alleged that he had disrupted the police's investigations. The case was taken to the Director of Public Prosecution for further investigations.