A gruesome scene unfolded 100 meters from Dora's Tavern in Wedela Extension 3, near Carletonville on the West Rand, where 17 people were killed and 15 others wounded in a mass shooting. The bloodstained ground and scattered food remnants tell the story of the horror that occurred on Saturday night. A braai stand lay overturned, with raw chicken feet and heads, forks, charcoal, cooking oil, and spices scattered across the ground. A hawker was busy plying his trade when the bullets started flying, striking him.
According to eyewitnesses, patrons were busy drinking at the tavern when eight armed men allegedly arrived and opened fire. The attackers first shot at people outside before entering the tavern and continuing to fire at patrons inside. They were reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols and allegedly searched some patrons for their cellphones before fleeing in two unidentified vehicles. The massacre has left families grieving and residents questioning whether enough is being done to prevent another attack.
The Mazwi family lost siblings Sinesipho and Sikho in the shooting, who were among patrons that had gathered to enjoy drinks during the Heritage Day celebrations at the tavern. A relative said he had spoken to the siblings hours before the shooting and was stunned when he heard that they had been shot. "At first, I thought I was dreaming, only to identify both at the scene after pushing through where police had blocked (people from accessing the crime scene). It's still a shock to us that we won't see them again."
Residents have questioned the visible presence of authorities only after the bloodshed. "Where were they when this happened? Their presence doesn't change the fact that people have died and probably more will die. They want to act like they are doing something." Another resident accused the government of failing the community, citing ongoing zama zama turf wars as a reason for the lack of safety in the area.
The community's fears are heightened by claims that the tavern had been the scene of another shooting roughly two months ago. Residents suspect that the gunmen will return, as they allegedly said after the weekend shooting. Gauteng police commissioner Lt-Gen Tommy Mthombeni said police were investigating robbery as a possible motive, while acknowledging that zama zama turf wars could not be ruled out.
Mthombeni established a multidisciplinary team and said investigators already had leads on the identities of the suspects. Police said most injured victims were South Africans, one Ethiopian, and Lesotho nationals. The incident is not an isolated one, as 10 people were shot and killed in the early hours of Sunday morning in Lwandle in the Western Cape, with 11 others injured.
Western Cape police spokesperson Brig Novela Potelwa said gunmen entered a shisanyama before 2 am and shot at patrons. In another incident, four people died in Khayelitsha when gunmen ambushed four men. The recent spate of violence has raised concerns about the safety of communities and the effectiveness of law enforcement in preventing such incidents.
Key points
- 17 people killed, 15 wounded in suspected robbery at a tavern in Wedela Extension 3 near Carletonville
- Residents question government's effectiveness in preventing violence, citing ongoing zama zama turf wars
- Incidents of violence are not isolated, with similar shootings reported in Lwandle and Khayelitsha
