Police minister Bheki Cele says an 11-member detective team is investigating the murders at a Soweto tavern.
The minister said 137 spent cartridges were found at the scene of the weekend massacre.
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He revealed this after receiving a briefing from police in Orlando East, and said police are searching for five suspects.
During a community engagement on Monday, Cele heard concerns about crime in the area from residents in Nomzamo, Diepkloof and Orlando.
“It was such a brutality,” Cele told the crowd.
The high number of rounds used meant the killers would have had to reload while in middle of the slaughter, he said.
“These people came to kill and destroy. We don’t know their motive but I guarantee we will find them.”
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