Five Killed, Six Injured in Zithobeni Tavern Shooting: Patron Describes Harrowing Attack
A night out at Qedukoma Tavern in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit, turned into a nightmare over the weekend when gunmen opened fire on patrons, leaving five dead and six injured.
One of the survivors, Sello Sedikane, 26, recounted the terrifying ordeal, saying he had been playing snooker with friends when the shooting began. “I dived under the table as bullets flew. I didn’t feel the bullet penetrating me. I only heard from people asking me why my leg was wet, and that is when I saw that I had been shot,” he said. Sedikane was hit in the leg and rushed to a local clinic for treatment. He said he did not know the attackers and did not see their faces.
According to Gauteng police, the assailants were well-known in the community. Spokesperson Brig. Brenda Muridili said police responded to the incident at around 1:30am on Sunday. “It is reported by witnesses that two men known in the community came into the tavern and demanded that one of the patrons hand over his licensed firearm. A shot went off and when the patrons ran outside, the suspects fired randomly. The patron with a firearm was shot and injured and his firearm taken,” she said.
The NPA confirmed that the patron whose firearm was taken will be charged with contravention of the Firearms Control Act for negligent handling of his 9mm pistol. Muridili added that a case of five counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder has been opened.
When a Sowetan team visited the area, about 50km east of Pretoria, the tavern remained closed and was cordoned off with police tape. Outside, the grieving family of Thembi Mtsweni, 26, one of the five victims, gathered. Her sister, Betty Mahlangu, 42, described the devastating moments after learning of her death.
“We were having fun at the tavern and the place was packed,” Mahlangu said. “She was very happy that day, and I remember her telling me to take care of her children as she wanted to have more fun. I was woken up by residents who broke down my door because I was fast asleep, and they told me my sister was no more. When I got there, she was lying on the floor, bleeding profusely. I asked her what I would tell her two children. It’s really painful how she died.”
Mtsweni is survived by her two children, aged five years and seven months. Neighbours said they did not know who the perpetrators were, though gunfire is often heard in the area as people fool around with firearms.
Tavern owner Phindile Nkuna, 32, said Mtsweni was leaving to check on her seven-month-old baby when the gunman opened fire. “A man ran into the tavern under pursuit by the shooter. When he shot, the bullet hit Mtsweni instead. She collapsed, and the gunman shot the man he had missed the first time. While the man survived, Mtsweni died at the scene,” Nkuna explained.
Nkuna added, “Thembi said she wanted to go check on her child. As she was leaving, I heard the first gunshot and then I heard the second time and that is when she fell down. As I was about to run to her aid, the shooter continued to shoot. I lay down to take cover. Thembi was right next to me, and when she opened her eyes, I thought she was still alive but when I checked again she was unresponsive. This whole thing still feels like a movie. I am still in disbelief. Yes, people bring firearms to the tavern or play with them outside, but I never thought people would ever lose their lives.”
The incident has drawn condemnation from the portfolio committee on community safety in the Gauteng provincial legislature. Chairperson Bandile Masuku described the attack as senseless and emphasised the urgent need to tackle firearm proliferation and misuse.
“This tragedy underscores the urgent need to address the proliferation and misuse of firearms, particularly in social spaces such as taverns, which are increasingly becoming hotspots for violent crime. We believe that reducing the number of firearms in circulation, both legal and illegal, is essential to restoring safety and dignity in our communities,” Masuku said.
The tavern remains closed while authorities continue their investigation into the tragic shooting that has left the community in shock.
Follow Us on Twitter
