Gunman goes on shooting rampage in South Africa

A gunman went on a shooting rampage on Friday in Mmabatho, North West Province, killing a local government official and wounding three others before turning the gun on himself, police said. A middle-aged man started shooting while outside a government building and reportedly entered the building and fired shots inside the offices of the Human Settlements Department (HSD) in the province, police Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said. "The man allegedly went to one of the offices where he shot and killed one person, then turned the gun on himself when police arrived," Mokgwabone said. Two people were injured from ricocheting shots while the third victim suffered head injuries after being struck with a gun. The wounded -- two woman and a man -- were taken to a nearby hospital. Mokgwabone said a case of two counts of attempted murder, one of murder and an inquest would be investigated. The gunman who also died was a government official in the HSD. The motive for the killing was not immediately known. North West Premier Thandi Modise has expressed shock at the shooting incident. "We wish to condemn in the strongest terms possible violence in the workplace which has left us numb with shock and convey our condolences to the families that lost their loved ones in the tragic incident. We also wish those injured in the incident a speedy recovery," Modise said while appealing for calm. Modise said the failure of the security personnel contracted to safeguard the safety of employees is being investigated. "Security companies are employed at a very high cost to the state to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the workplace. We will be demanding answers and taking drastic action," she added.