By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura has condemned the killing of innocent lives at Mdlalose Tavern in Orlando, Soweto.
“We cannot allow incidents like this where innocent people are killed like animals. This kind of behaviour has no place in this province,” he said.
His statement comes after 15 patrons were killed at the tavern in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Makhura said police were “hot on the heels” of those who committed the crime. He said all patrons were adults and that the tavern was operating legally.
“I have received assurances that Mdlalose’s tavern is a legally operating establishment. The people at the establishment were adults. There were no minors there. In Gauteng, we crack down on illegal establishments every weekend,” Makhura said.
He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and said he was praying for those who were in critical condition.
ANC Gauteng chairperson Panyaza Lesufi has described the shooting in Soweto as an example of the lawlessness that has gripped the province.
Lesufi, who also serves as the Gauteng MEC for Education, was speaking on the sidelines of the ANC Gauteng provincial conference on Sunday.
He said the ANC had to take a stern position on dealing with rising crime in the province as it held policy discussions at its conference.
“We woke up this morning to the death of almost 15 people. This demonstrates lawlessness. It demonstrates that our communities are not protected, and people can do as they wish,” Lesufi said.
“You cannot have this state of lawlessness, honestly. When people are having a nice time, someone decides those people have to die. What pains the most is that those people can just vanish in darkness because they know they will not be tracked because they know law enforcement agencies are not capable or are not there to track them. They must leave no stone unturned to track these people,” Lesufi added.
He said Premier Makhura, and himself would visit those still in hospital and their families.
Meanwhile a scuffle between members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Operation Dudula broke out.
It appears the scuffle was about who arrived at the crime scene first.
All this happened as the police were still busy with investigations in a bid to find out what could have led to the shooting.
Operation Dudula leader Nhlanhla Lux said the question about who arrived first at the scene was not important. The EFF was represented by it’s national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo.
The police intervened and managed to quell the tension.
Police Minister Bheki Cele will only be briefed fully on developments regarding a spate of shootings in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, his spokesperson Lirandzu Temba confirmed.