By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has dropped charges against five of the six men accused of the mass shooting at Mdlalose Tavern in Nomzamo Park, Soweto, which left 16 people dead.
NPA Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane says the decision was taken due to the fact that there were no prospects of a successful prosecution.
“The NPA concluded that there are no prospects of a successful prosecution, as requests for further investigation were not complied with due to witnesses fearing for their lives or witnesses subsequently losing their lives.”
The shooting which made international headlines in July last year left 16 patrons dead at a bar in Nomzamo section after a group of assailants opened fire on the crowd.
In September the NPA claimed that it had “circumstantial evidence” against the five suspects however the authority now says it had to withdraw the charges following thorough analysis of the contents of the dockets.
However, Mjonondwane says they will still pursue two other suspects in the Doornkop and Kliptown shooting that left two people dead in 2021.
“The state will however continue with prosecution against Lepolesa Moshoeshoe on attempted murder charges in a Doornkop docket registered in September 2021 and Thembinkosi Kiviet on a murder charge registered with Orlando SAPS in April 2022.”
The suspects faced 19 counts of murder in total. Three of the murder counts were from other cases that were combined with the Mdlalose Tavern docket.