Police arrest father of North-West murder suspect

Police have arrested the father of a man who shot dead three people in the North-West yesterday afternoon. The boy's father is the owner of the two firearms used in the attack.

Meanwhile, a helicopter search is being launched for the 18-year-old boy and his friend is said to have randomly opened fire on residents.

In what was apparently a race-related attack, two young men entered the Skielik informal settlement and opened fire. A 30-year-old man, a 13-year-old boy and a 3-month-old baby died in the shooting spree and about seven people were wounded.

Following the murders, hundreds of protesters blockaded the main road leading into Swartruggens in the North West this morning, delaying trucks carrying cargo en route to Botswana. Politicians and police are negotiating with residents to open the road linking Johannesburg and Botswana via the N4 route.