By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) have arrested eleven suspects believed to be linked to mass shooting at the KwaNoxolo tavern in Bekkersdal, West of Johannesburg.
The mass shooting took place early hours of Sunday, 21 December, when gunmen opened fire randomly leaving 10 people dead and 10 injured.
The motive of the shooting is still unknown.
Fullview yesterday reported that SAPS had identified two potential suspects.
Gauteng deputy police commissioner Fred Kekana confirmed that the arrest of the first two suspects led police to a house, where nine additional suspects were apprehended.
One of the two initial suspects was found in possession of an AK-47 rifle, while the other individuals were arrested with four pistols in their possession.
Kekana suggested that the house belonged to the Sibanye-Stillwater Mine, whose security team assisted police during the arrest operation.
He explained that the property had been allocated to a mine employee, who had since been arrested for harbouring illegal immigrants.
The employee, a South African national, could also face a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
“To harbour people who are wanted criminals or you know are in possession of firearms and what they are doing on its own is a crime,” said Kekana.
Kekana told reporters that nine of the arrested suspects are Lesotho nationals, while one is from Mozambique.
The foreign nationals will face charges related to being in South Africa without the required documentation, possession of illegal firearms, and possession of unlicensed ammunition.
He said all confiscated firearms will be sent to the police’s Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic testing.
Kekana further said some firearms remain unaccounted for, since at least 10 suspects were involved in the shooting.
It was the second mass shooting in Gauteng in recent weeks. On 6 December, three gunmen stormed into an illegal tavern inside a hostel in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. Twelve people were killed, including three children.
According to the latest crime statistics, between July and September there were 191 victims in Gauteng related to multiple murders. They include 51 murders that had two victims and 17 with three victims. There were four multiple murders with four victims each, and one mass murder which had 11 victims.