Gauteng Police Pursue Leads After 17 Killed in Wedela Tavern Mass Shooting

Gauteng police have launched an extensive manhunt following the fatal shooting of 17 people at a tavern in Wedela, near Carletonville, on Saturday night.

The attack, which unfolded at around 9:30pm in Extension 3, has left residents shocked and grieving, while investigators work to track down eight armed suspects believed to be responsible.

According to police, patrons were gathered inside and outside the tavern when the suspects arrived armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols. The gunmen allegedly opened fire on people outside before entering the premises and continuing the attack on those inside.

In addition to the shooting, the suspects reportedly robbed some patrons of their personal belongings, including cellphones, before fleeing the scene in two unidentified vehicles. Two vehicles at the scene were also set alight, leaving them completely destroyed.

Emergency Medical Services confirmed that 17 people, including 13 men and four women, died at the scene. Fifteen others sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni described the incident as a tragedy and said a specialised multidisciplinary team had been established within hours of the shooting to drive the investigation.

The team includes Crime Intelligence, detectives, Crime Scene Management, the Criminal Record Centre and tracking specialists. Community members are also being encouraged to assist police by providing any information that may help identify and locate the suspects.

Mthombeni said investigators have already received valuable information and are following several leads.

"We are convinced that we will be able to follow up on the information we have received and make progress in this investigation," he said.

Police are still in the process of formally identifying all the victims. At the time of the briefing, only three of the deceased had been positively identified. Authorities confirmed that one was a South African citizen, while others identified so far include nationals from Lesotho.

Among the injured victims, 11 are South African citizens, one is an Ethiopian national and three are from Lesotho.

While the motive remains under investigation, police believe robbery may have been a significant factor in the attack. The theft of personal belongings during the shooting forms part of the evidence being examined by investigators.

However, Mthombeni said police have not ruled out the possibility that the killings may be linked to ongoing conflicts associated with illegal mining activities in the region. Wedela is situated within a mining belt that has experienced criminal activity related to illicit mining operations.

The Provincial Commissioner emphasised that Operation Prosper, which targets illegal mining and organised crime, remains active across the West Rand. He noted that law enforcement agencies, including members of the South African National Defence Force, have already been operating in surrounding areas as part of broader crime-combating efforts.

Recent operations have resulted in the seizure of explosives, ammunition and illegal firearms, as well as the arrest of numerous suspects linked to criminal activity.

Mthombeni also addressed concerns regarding compliance within the liquor industry. He confirmed that police continue to work closely with the Gauteng Liquor Board to verify licences and ensure that liquor establishments operate legally.

Police have opened 17 counts of murder, 15 counts of attempted murder and two counts of malicious damage to property. No arrests have been made and investigations remain ongoing.

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is encouraged to contact the Crime Stop Line on 08600 10111 or provide information anonymously through the MySAPS App.

As investigations continue, families of the victims are waiting for answers while police intensify efforts to bring those responsible for one of Gauteng's deadliest mass shootings to justice.

Police Net Suspect Hours After Discovery of Woman’s Body at Mooifontein Cemetery

A swift police operation has led to the arrest of a suspect in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was discovered at Mooifontein Cemetery in the Vusimusi section of Tembisa on Saturday, 26 September 2026.

The victim, Ntombifuthu Nxumalo, was found behind the cemetery near the Vusimusi informal settlement.

Investigators tracked the suspect to Tembisa before establishing that he had travelled to Limpopo. A multidisciplinary team comprising Ekurhuleni District Crime Intelligence, Tembisa South detectives and SAPS Head Office Investigations Psychology Services travelled to Mohlabaneng Village, where they enlisted the assistance of SAPS Bolobedu.

The suspect was located asleep in his room and arrested.

According to preliminary investigations, Nxumalo had been drinking at a local tavern with a female acquaintance before leaving with an unidentified man.

Residents living near the cemetery told investigators they heard a woman screaming and pleading for her life at about 23:00.

Police said Nxumalo was found naked and had sustained severe head injuries. Stones were discovered around her body, leading investigators to suspect that she may have been stoned to death. No visible stab wounds were observed at the scene.

Acting National Commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, praised the coordinated efforts of the investigating team.

"I commend this multidisciplinary team for their swift response, coordination and determination, which resulted in the apprehension of the suspect on the same day. This is the kind of policing we expect from our members. We will continue to pursue perpetrators of murder and gender-based violence and femicide and ensure that they face the full might of the law," said Dimpane.

The arrest comes amid growing concern over several cases involving women whose bodies have recently been discovered across Ekurhuleni.

During a visit to the crime scene on Saturday, the *Lenasia Times Group of Newspapers* interviewed Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, who addressed public concerns over whether the incidents could be linked.

Mthombeni said a dedicated team had been assembled to investigate the cases and that progress was being closely monitored.

He explained that specialist resources, including investigative psychologists, were assisting detectives with victimology studies and behavioural analysis to better understand the circumstances surrounding the crimes and identify those responsible.

Police have also announced a R400,000 reward for information that could assist in solving the cases.

Mthombeni said the response extends beyond SAPS, with a Joint Operational Centre established in Kempton Park to coordinate intelligence, deployments and investigations. The operation includes collaboration between law enforcement agencies, community structures, non-governmental organisations and business crime-prevention initiatives.

He also urged families to report missing persons immediately.

"There is no waiting period to report missing persons," he said.

Mthombeni noted that people often travel between provinces in search of employment and may lose contact with relatives, making it vital for concerns to be reported without delay.

Addressing speculation that the cases may be linked to a serial offender, Mthombeni cautioned against drawing premature conclusions.

While investigators have identified similarities in some of the cases, he said police must first establish clear evidential links before determining whether one perpetrator is responsible.

"We cannot conclusively say there is a serial killer," Mthombeni said, adding that police could also not rule out the possibility while investigations remain ongoing.

He further warned against comparing the current investigations to notorious serial murder cases of the past, noting that those matters had already been investigated and successfully prosecuted.

At the time of the interview, Mthombeni emphasised that the Mooifontein murder investigation was still in its early stages and that detectives would continue working to determine whether it is connected to other cases under investigation.

The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the Mooifontein murder investigation, while police continue to pursue all available leads in a broader effort to establish whether any links exist between the cases reported across Ekurhuleni.

The suspect is expected to appear in court as investigations continue.

SAPS Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni