By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The case against suspects linked to the mass shooting at the KwaNoxolo tavern in Bekkersdal has been rolled over to Tuesday for the legal aid application.
Only five out eleven suspects appeared before the Westonaria Magistrates Court on Monday. All five men who stood before the court are all Lesotho nationals.
The suspects face charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms, live ammunition and undocumented immigrants.
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.
The media was denied permission to record any audio or visuals because an identity parade is yet to be conducted. The five will return to court on Tuesday, 30 December 2025.
KwaNoxolo tavern owner, Nanesi Matwa, who faces charges of operating without a liquor license has been remanded to 31 December 2025 for profiling.
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.