Mapaballo Borotho
- Six people were fatally shot at Qedukoma Tavern in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit, prompting a police manhunt and leaving the community deeply shaken.
- Gauteng MEC Bandile Masuku called for urgent action against the proliferation and misuse of illegal firearms, particularly in social spaces like taverns.
- The incident underscores the growing threat of gun violence in the province and the need for targeted interventions and firearm-specific crime data.
Gauteng police have launched a manhunt following the fatal shooting of six people at Qedukoma Tavern in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit. The shooting, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning around 01:30, has left families devastated and the community in mourning, feeling unsafe.
MEC for the Gauteng Portfolio Committee on Community Safety, Bandile Masuku, said this tragedy underscores the urgent need to address the scourge of illegal firearms in the province and their misuse, particularly in social spaces such as taverns, which are increasingly becoming hotspots for violent crime.
“The Committee is alarmed by the brazenness of the perpetrators and the apparent ease with which firearms are accessed and used to commit heinous crimes. The Committee notes with concern that this incident comes shortly after the release of the national and provincial crime statistics for the last quarter. While these statistics provide a broad overview of crime trends, they do not sufficiently isolate and highlight the growing threat posed by gun-related violence in our province,” he said.
Masuku called for the development of alternative and additional crime statistics that specifically track incidents involving firearms.
“This data will be critical in shaping targeted interventions, informing policy, and mobilising communities against gun violence. Furthermore, the Committee reaffirms its commitment to advocating for a Gun-Free South Africa. We believe that reducing the number of firearms in circulation, both legal and illegal, is essential to restoring safety and dignity in our communities,” he added.
He vowed that the Portfolio Committee will continue to monitor developments in this case and work with the Department of Community Safety and the SAPS in the province to strengthen community safety mechanisms, particularly in areas where alcohol is sold and consumed.
Once again, this incident highlights the urgent need to address these mass shootings that continue to take place in social spaces, especially in taverns. In July, the community of Olievenhoutbosch in Centurion was also left devastated and traumatised following a tragic tavern shooting that claimed five lives and left several others injured.
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