As many as 14 people have been shot dead at a tavern in Nomzamo Informal Settlement, Orlando East, Soweto, SA Police Service said Sunday morning.
Witnesses said the shooters shot randomly at patrons before fleeing in a white Quantum Minibus.
The shooting occurred in the early hours on Sunday – just after midnight.
When the police arrived at the tavern, they found 13 bodies with gunshot wounds. The 14th person died at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
Lieutenant General Elias Mawela said police detectives were at the scene of the mass shooting in Orlando, Soweto.
No arrests have been reported and the names of the deceased have not yet been released.
In a statement issued mid-morning Sunday, Colonel Dimakatso Sello said, “police are on the lookout” for suspects following the random shooting and they were urging anyone with information that could lead to arrests of suspects to contact them.
Releasing more details about the shooting, Colonel Sello said: “It is reported that on 10 July 2022 at about 00:30 a group of men armed with rifles and 9mm pistols entered the tavern and started shooting randomly at the patrons, who were sitting inside.
“Twenty-three people were shot, 12 of whom were declared dead on the scene, while 11 were rushed to a nearby hospital.
“‘Two more were later declared dead at the hospital.
The police opened 14 cases of murder and nine of attempted murder.
“The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, has condemned the incident and urged the team of detectives led by Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Crime Detection, Major General Mbuso Khumalo to pull out all stops in ensuring that the perpetrators are arrested and brought to book,” said the statement.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects is urged to report on the crime stop hotline at 08600 10111 or by giving a tip-off on the MySAPS app.
All information received will be treated as strictly confidential.
