By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA Police Services (SAPS) have confirmed that five men have been shot and killed outside a tuck shop in Jeffsville, Atteridgeville, Tshwane.
Fullview learnt that four people were shot outside the shop, while one person was shot while exiting the shop and died inside the shop.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the incident occurred at around 1:15pm on Wednesday at Block JV.
“The victims were standing outside the tuck shop when they were approached by an unknown number of suspects, who opened fire without saying a word,” she said.
She added that paramedics declared all five victims dead at the scene. The suspects fled immediately after the shooting and remain at large.
Muridili stated that determining the motive for the attack will form a key part of the investigation.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, said police have mobilised significant resources to investigate the incident.
Members of the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Investigations unit, Forensic Crime Scene Management, Crime Intelligence, and the Provincial Tracking Team are currently processing the scene and interviewing witnesses.
This is the second shooting in Gauteng province in two days. Five people were shot at the Booysens Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Two of the victims have been confirmed dead, while three were injured in the shooting, which occurred while a group was attending a court case.
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Sixty-three people were killed every day on average last year, according to police figures.
Murders are often the result of arguments, robberies and gang violence. The motive of both attacks are not clear.
There has been a significant increase in mass shootings – where four or more people are either killed or injured – since 2020.
Among the most common locations are licensed taverns, such as in Bekkersdal or illegal drinking spots, known locally as shebeens, which was the case in the 6 December killings in the same area, Atteridgeville.