By Everson Luhanga
Thirteen people were killed in two different incidents of mass shootings in less than 24 hours in the North West province.
Five people were at Freedom Park Phase 1, an informal settlement outside Rustenburg in North West province.
The victims—four men and one woman—were found along the street with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to their heads.
North West provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone confirmed the incident.
“At this stage, there is no information regarding the suspects except that they fled the scene driving in a white Toyota Quantum,” he said.
Mokgwabone added that, according to the information available to the police, four of the victims were declared dead at the scene, while the fifth died at Job Shimankane Tabane Hospital.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena has instructed detectives to leave no stone unturned to ensure the arrest of the suspects.
The motive for the incident is unknown, and investigations are underway.
In a different incident, 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.
The Premier’s spokesperson Brian Setswambung said five men entered the tavern on the evening of Friday, 26 July.
Brian said the suspects refused to be searched at the entrance, and a scuffle ensued.
“On entering the tavern, the 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 the hospital.
“Of the deceased, four are South Africans, and two are from Mozambique and Lesotho, respectively,” he said.
North West Premier Kagiso Lazarus 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 urge the police to do everything in their power to investigate this matter to its logical conclusion and bring to book all responsible for these dastardly acts.”
The MEC for the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, earlier on Saturday, 27 July 2024, accompanied by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Sello Kwena and Matlosana Executive Mayor Fikile Mahlophe, visited the scene of the crime and met some of the bereaved families.
“The police under the leadership of the Provincial Commissioner have already assembled a team of senior investigators and detectives to delve into this mass killing. I do not doubt that arrests will be made soon,” said MEC Morweng.
