By Lehlohonolo Lehana .
The death toll of the shooting at a tavern in Orlando East, Soweto has risen to 15.
The shooting took place at the Mdlalose tavern in the Nomzamo informal settlement in the early hours of Sunday.
According to the South Africa Police Service (Saps), several people were left injured, with others are said to be in critical condition.
Their ages are estimated to be between 19 and 35.
Orlando police station commander Brigadier Nonhlanhla Kubeka said investigations are still taking place at the scene and more information will be released soon.
“Yes I can confirm that early hours of this morning around 12:30am, we received a call to say that there was a shooting incident at [the] Mdlalose tavern in Nomzamo section, said Kubeka.
“12 died on the scene and another one died on arrival and the 14th one also died after admission,” added Kubeka.
Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko said people were innocently “hanging around” when the shooting began.
“It was like how people sit in a shebeen socialising and relaxing. No one was vigilant to see that something wrong will happen to them. They were not contributing to crime; these ones came in and starting shooting them.”
Mazibuko said some illegal establishments were contributing to crime.
“I indicated earlier that sometimes, this is where our people hang out. This is part of the township economy to help our people increase the economy of the township. Ensuring they comply is one matter we having been sitting on. Most are complying.”
The National Liquor Traders (NLT) has called on police to investigate fully the circumstances that led to the incident.
The NLT convener, Lucky Ntimane said the shooting was of grave concern, adding that “the perpetrators must be brought to book swiftly to prevent any further incidents.”
“Taverns provide a livelihood for thousands of township business men and women and are an important component of local township economies.”
Yet another shooting occurred in Katlehong’s Mputlane Inn Tavern, killing two people.
It’s reported that four unknown gunmen entered the tavern and fired shots in the direction of a snooker table where someone was playing snooker.
They demanded a firearm and began shooting randomly at patrons.
Six people were shot, two of whom died at the scene, two people were rushed to hospital.
Meanwhile four people have been killed and another eight are in critical condition after yet another tavern shooting, this time in Pietermartizburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said that the four were killed around 20:30 on Saturday at a tavern in Sweet Waters.
The shootings comes exactly two weeks after the tragic deaths of 22 people at a tavern in East London.