Charges against six men accused of the mass shooting at Nomzamo Tavern in Orlando East, Soweto last year have been dropped. The man faced charges of murder and attempted murder after 16 patrons were shot dead while eight were injured when a group of men shot at patrons.
THE SHOOTING AND SUBSEQUENT ARRESTS
In July last year, 24 patrons were shot when gunmen armed with 9mm pistols as well as an AK47 randomly opened fire at patrons. Some of the victims died on the scene while others died on the way to the hospital and the last two died in the hospital a few days after the incident. In September 2022, the police announced that they had arrested five suspects linked to the shooting. A sixth suspect was arrested in January this year. One of the accused is a former Hawks senior investigator who was based in the North West before his resignation. The six men were provisionally charged with 19 counts of murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and defeating the ends of justice. One of the suspects was granted R35 000 bail in February this year. During the accused's court appearances at the Orlando East Magistrates' Court, magistrate Anthony le Roux had ordered the media not to release the identities of the accused.
NO PROSPECT OF PROSECUTION
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said criminal charges against all accused in the Nomzamo tavern shooting were withdrawn following a thorough analysis of the contents of the dockets related to the shooting incident.
"It was 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,' Mjonondwane said. She added that the State will however, continue with prosecution against two of the men, Lepolesa Moshoeshoe on attempted murder in September 2021 and Thembinkosi Kiviet on a murder charge in April 2022.
RECENT TAVERN SHOOTINGS
In a similar incident recently, 15 people were injured following a mass shooting at a tavern in Soshanguve, Tshwane, on Sunday night. It's alleged that an unknown suspect stormed into the tavern and started shooting. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said it is reported that on the said day, the police were called to a shooting incident, and upon arrival at the scene, a few people were found with gunshot wounds and were taken to the local clinic and hospital. "According to information at hand, the unknown suspect entered the tavern whilst patrons were busy consuming liquor and without saying anything, just started shooting randomly,' Nevhuhulwi said. She added that the motive for the shooting is unknown and the police have opened 15 cases of attempted murder. Two weeks ago, fourteen people were shot and three died when unknown men shot randomly at patrons in two taverns in Malamulele and in Maake, Limpopo. No one has been arrested in the two incidents and the police are still looking for suspects.
