Gauteng police confident questioning of two suspects will lead to breakthrough in Bekkersdal tavern shooting

Gauteng police said that they are confident the questioning of two potential suspects will lead them to more suspects linked to the mass shooting at the Bekkersdal tavern.

Twelve suspects, who are believed to be Lesotho nationals, were identified in the shooting, which occurred on Sunday morning.

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On Tuesday, acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Fred Kekana evealed eyewitnesses said the suspects had blankets over them and covered their faces with balaclavas.

He was accompanied by acting Premier Jacob Mamabolo.

Kekana said the suspects’ Southern Sotho accents are what led police to believe they are chasing a group of Basotho nationals.

Kekana said the two potential suspects could help effect arrests into the attack on the tavern, which claimed the lives of ten people.

Meanwhile, Bekkersdal residents said they have lost faith into the police.

“I don’t know who we can turn to right now because this incident is not the first of its kind,” said one resident.

“People keep dying here. We can’t regard this as a normal community because we don’t know what the motive is,” said another.

The owner of the tavern has been arrested for operating without a legal liquor license.

SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

The Gauteng provincial government will be providing support to the families of those killed in the mass shooting at the tavern in Bekkersdal on Sunday.

Mamabolo added the funeral dates are yet to be confirmed.

“Mainly the support is around transport, a big number of them requested transport, particularly in the Eastern Cape and there are those from Lesotho and those from Limpopo so to that extent we have appointed the CFO who is the acting city manager of Rand West Municipality to coordinate.”