Police investigate the scene at the Kwanoxolo Tavern in Bekkersdal following a mass shooting that left nine people dead, as arrests continue and the tavern owner faces separate fraud and licensing charges. Picture Credit: IOL
By Aisha Zardad
Bekkersdal – Eleven people have been arrested following the deadly mass shooting at the Kwanoxolo Tavern in Bekkersdal, an attack that left nine people dead and has deeply shaken the West Rand community.
The arrests follow a violent incident on Sunday, when unknown assailants opened fire inside the tavern before continuing to shoot indiscriminately into nearby streets. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and police have not yet confirmed whether the suspects are directly linked to the shootings.
Gauteng police confirmed that the latest arrests were made at a residence believed to be harbouring illegal miners. Acting Provincial Police Commissioner Fred Kekana said the operation yielded significant evidence, including multiple firearms allegedly found in the suspects’ possession.
Kekana was briefing the media at the Westonaria Police Station on Wednesday, where he described the arrests as part of a broader investigation into violent crime in the area.
In a related but separate development, the owner of the Kwanoxolo Tavern, Nonesi Matwa, was arrested on charges of fraud and operating a liquor outlet without a valid licence.
Matwa’s arrest took place on Tuesday as senior government officials visited the scene to assess compliance issues and engage with families affected by the tragedy. Acting Gauteng Premier Jacob Mamabolo joined Kekana at the premises, where they met relatives of the nine victims who were killed in the attack.
Large crowds gathered outside the tavern as a heavy police presence secured the area and processed the scene for administrative and regulatory violations. Authorities later confirmed that discrepancies were found in the tavern’s liquor licensing documentation.
“The report came from the liquor licensing board that the licence is fraudulent, so we are going to arrest her so that she can face the music,” Kekana said. “She cannot use a fraudulent licence and come and play.”
Police emphasised that the arrest of the tavern owner is not linked to the shooting itself, but strictly to the legality of the business operations. Despite this, Matwa’s family voiced strong objections during the arrest, insisting she was being unfairly targeted and was not responsible for the violence.
“She did not pull the trigger and kill the patrons,” family members argued.
Meanwhile, police confirmed that all alcohol at the premises is being seized and removed as investigations into both the mass shooting and the tavern’s operations continue.
