By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Police Minister Bheki Cele says police are hot on the heels of the suspects that mowed down 15 people at a tavern in Soweto on Saturday evening.
In the meantime, the South African Police (SAPS) will on Monday deploy the Tactical Response Team and Public Order Police unit.
Cele made the announcement during a community engagement in Orlando, Soweto, on Monday. This after a shooting at the Nomzamo informal settlement in Orlando East. The shooting was one of three mass killings in South Africa over the weekend.
Another two people were shot and killed at a tavern in Katlehong. On the same night, four people were shot dead and eight others injured when gunmen stormed a Pietermaritzburg tavern and opened fire.
Cele said the deaths were “painful”, especially as the deceased people were young.
“They were killed by criminals. It is our job to find out what happened. A task team has been formed to find the perpetrators. They will have to account for their actions. They will have to explain why they did what they did… why the brutality,” he said.
At the scene, police recovered 135 empty AK47 cartridges. Cele said the assailants wanted to “inflict maximum harm”.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the five people arrived at the tavern in a taxi.
Cele guaranteed residents that the culprits would be arrested. He also promised to increase the number of police officers on the ground.
Two arrested in Pietermaritzburg tavern shootings
Two people have been arrested in connection to the killing of four people and wounding of eight others at a tavern in Pietermaritzburg.
KZN Provincial Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi confirmed on Tuesday that they have taken in some suspects in following Saturday’s shooting at Samkelisiwe Tavern in Sweetwaters, Pietermaritzburg.
At about 20:30 two men are alleged to have entered the tavern and randomly opened fire on the patrons resulting in at least 12 people being shot. Two people died at the scene and two died later.
Mkhwanazi said they were following on some leads and were expecting to make more arrests.
Pressure mounts for Cele to step down
Pressure is mounting for an investigation into Cele in a week where the beleaguered top cop came under heavy fire.
Deputy national commissioner of assets and legal management Francinah Vuma is the latest to fire a broadside at Cele and other high-ranking police.
In a “protected disclosure” letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa she accused Cele of corruption and political interference and hatching a plan to kill her.
In the letter, Vuma implicated Cele in a 2010 World Cup procurement scandal, of coercion during her investigation into a multimillion-rand SAPS PPE deal and interference in retaining a general who was not suitably qualified.
She also claimed the minister had spent R5.5 million of police money on travelling to Dubai and to pay for his court cases.
Vuma said she feared for her life, having led these and other high-profile investigations into senior SAPS figures.
“I am both scared for my life and livelihood as both are being threatened … The (State Security Agency) SSA, who at a particular point, were of the view that my life is in danger.
“It’s evident to me from the determined haste of General (Fannie) Masemola to suspend me, that he is driven by improper motives. I believe that Masemola is working with people who are internal and external of SAPS to obstruct certain investigations against his colleagues.”