Alfred Moselakgomo

Alfred Moselakgomo

A bus trip home after work turned ugly when a passenger was shot three times after an argument between two men at the weekend.

The victim, who was in a bus travelling from Nelspruit to White River in Mpumalanga, died after being taken to Themba Hospital at KaBokweni outside White River.

The suspect was arrested and charged with attempted murder, but the charge was later changed to murder after the victim died in hospital.

Eyewitnesses said that the two men had been arguing for long time during the trip from work on Sunday.

The suspect, who was in possession of a firearm, was reportedly drunk and swearing at the other man.

The victim swore back at the man and that resulted into a heated argument.

"The suspect produced a firearm and shot the other man after a scuffle had broken out.

"He shot the victim three times in the chest," said an eyewitness.

White River police spokesman Constable Gerald Sedibe said the suspect was expected to appear in the White River magistrates' court soon.

"At the moment we are still busy with investigations," said Sedibe.

The name of the victim has not been released because police said they were still trying to trace his next of kin.

Repeated attempts to get comment from John Ngomane, a spokesman for Buscor, the company that owns the bus in which the incident took place, were not successful.