Mfuleni police registered murder and attempted murder cases for investigation after unknown men entered a shebeen in the Covid informal settlement in Mfuleni and opened fire on patrons, on Wednesday 5 October.
Provincial police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg confirmed the incident, saying the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which occurred around 21:00 on Wednesday, in Covid, Mfuleni, and in which four unknown males were wounded, one fatally, and which was under investigation.
“Mfuleni police responded to a complaint of a shooting and on arrival on the scene they found the victims with gunshot wounds to their bodies. An unknown man was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel, while the other victims were taken to a medical facility for treatment. According to reports unknown suspects entered the premises and opened fire on the victims before fleeing the scene.” He said the motive for the attack was also subject to police investigation.
A community member who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals said the incident is extortion-related.
“According to the information I received from some of the people who were in the shebeen a group of men came in to collect money from the shebeen owner. It is suspected that when the shebeen owner didn’t have the money the suspects became angry and randomly shot people who were in there. One of them died on the scene and several others were wounded.” The source said their brother was fortunate because he was sitting outside when the incident occurred.
She said the shebeen was closed temporarily.
