Thu Dec 25 07:37:44 UTC 2025: Summary:

South African police have arrested 11 people, including nine Lesotho nationals, one Mozambican, and a South African mine employee, in connection with a mass shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal that left 10 dead and 10 wounded. The suspects were found with unlicensed firearms, including handguns and an AK-47 rifle. The arrests followed raids on two houses near Johannesburg. The tavern owner has also been charged with fraud and operating an illegal liquor outlet. The area is known for illicit mining and gang violence, and many undocumented miners operate in the region. South Africa struggles with high homicide rates, with firearms being the leading cause of death.

News Article:

Johannesburg, South Africa – Eleven Arrested in Connection to Tavern Massacre; Illegal Firearms Seized

South African police have apprehended 11 individuals, including nine Lesotho nationals and one Mozambican, in connection to the brutal tavern shooting in Bekkersdal that claimed the lives of 10 people on Sunday. Another 10 people were wounded in the attack, which involved a group of gunmen targeting the establishment.

The arrests occurred after police and security forces raided two houses outside of Johannesburg on Wednesday. During the operation, officers seized a cache of unlicensed firearms, including four handguns and an AK-47 assault rifle, according to authorities.

“We found cartridges and live ammunition of the ‘same type’ of firearms at the shooting scene,” stated Fred Kekana, acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, confirming that these items are undergoing forensic testing to determine if they were used in the mass shooting.

In addition to the 10 foreign nationals, police also arrested a South African mine employee on charges of harboring undocumented tenants and obstructing justice. Further complicating the situation, Nonesi Matwa, the owner of the targeted tavern, was charged with fraud and operating an illegal liquor outlet on Tuesday. Her family has denied the charges, asserting that she is being unfairly targeted and is not responsible for the violence.

Bekkersdal, located west of Johannesburg, is plagued by illicit mining operations and gang violence, partly due to the presence of “zama-zamas” – undocumented miners often from neighboring countries. The area’s abandoned mines have become havens for illegal activity and a breeding ground for firearms proliferation.

South Africa faces a severe crisis of violence, with firearms frequently used in killings. Despite strict gun control laws, the nation grapples with an alarmingly high homicide rate, with nearly 26,000 murders recorded in 2024 alone.

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