North West Premier Kagiso Lazarus Mokgosi condemns the mass killing of eight people at extension 13 Kanana Township in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality.
Preliminary investigation indicates that five men entered the tavern in the evening of Friday, 26th of July 2024.
They refused to be searched at the entrance and a scuffle ensued. On entering the tavern, lights were switched off and random shots were fired, as some of the patrons scampered out.
Seven people died at the scene comprising five men and two women. The sixth man died at the hospital.
Twelve other people were seriously injured and are receiving treatment in hospital.
Of the deceased four are South Africans and two are from Mozambique and Lesotho respectively.
Premier Mokgosi has urged the police to follow all possible leads in the arrest of the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
"We are saddened and extremely shocked by this incident which left eight people dead. I want to urge the police to do everything in their power to investigate this matter to its logical conclusion and bring to book all responsible for this dastardly acts" maintained Premier Mokgosi.
The MEC for the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng has earlier on Saturday, 27th of July 2024 accompanied by
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and Matlosana Executive Mayor ayor, Fikile Mahlophe visited the scene of crime and met some of the bereaved families.
"The police under the leadership of the Provincial Commissioner has already assembled a team of senior investigators and detectives to go into the thrust of this mass killing. I have no doubt that arrest will be made soon. We further urge our communities to assist with information so that we can nip incidents such as this one in the bud and keep our communities safe" said MEC Morweng.