Shot bus driver undergoing surgery

Johannesburg - The bus driver who was shot and wounded when he tried to protect his passengers during an armed robbery on the bus in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, on Wednesday was undergoing surgery, paramedics said.

The driver, Selelo Edward Marwala, 58, was in a serious condition, ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak said.

One passenger had a graze wound. No one else was injured.

Metrobus spokesperson Esther Dryer said a group of six armed men jumped onto the bus when it stopped on the corner of Hendrik Potgieter and Ontdekkers roads to pick up a passenger just before 06:00.

"The men started shooting randomly, possibly to scare the passengers and the bus driver intervened."

Marwala, who was nicknamed Ace, was shot in the abdomen and taken to Flora Clinic.

Dryer said Marwala was popular with his passengers and would go out if his way to help them.