For 10 minutes, Andile* squeezed his body underneath the pool table at Mdlalose’s Tavern in Orlando East, Soweto, while a man with an AK-47 stood at the door, about 2m away from him, randomly shooting at patrons.
As injured patrons fell to the floor next to the shaken Andile, the man with the AK-47 ran away. Seconds later, two men armed with 9mm guns walked in to finish off whoever they thought was alive. The three gunmen then sped off, leaving behind horrific scenes that shocked the country yesterday morning.
The shooting left 15 people dead and eight injured.
Two people were killed in another tavern shooting in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni on Friday night, and four died when a shebeen was hit in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday night.
This brought the total number of deaths to 21 while 20 people sustained gunshot wounds during the three incidents.
I don’t know how I survived. I will never forget what I saw
— Soweto tavern shooting witness
Andile said while the men randomly fired inside the tavern, an amapiano song did not stop playing until the men fled the scene. He said it was luck that he survived as the gunmen intended to kill everyone.
“I was playing pool when I heard gunshots. As I lifted my head, I saw a man with an AK-47 randomly shooting at everyone. I immediately went under the pool table and pretended to be dead.
“The gunshots went on for some time. Two men carrying guns came in and continued to shoot people on the ground. I don’t know how I survived. I will never forget what I saw,” he said.
Once the killers left, Andile crawled up to the tavern counter to escape. He found the tavern manager hiding behind a wall.
“The floor was covered with blood and injured people. Some bodies lay on top of each other as I tried to sneak out. I was scared about going towards the main door so I went towards the cashier window and tried to force my way behind the counter.
“That’s when I realised the manager was on the other side. We used his phone to call for help,” he said.
Fifteen male patrons between the ages of 19 and 35 were confirmed dead yesterday afternoon. Eight others between the ages of 31 and 33 were admitted to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital with bullet wounds.
Gauteng police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela and MEC for community safety Faith Mazibuko arrived at the tavern to assess the situation.
“We can confirm high-calibre weapons were used at this crime scene. The motive for the shooting is not yet known. Early investigation reports suggest a group of men responsible for this massacre fled the scene in a Quantum taxi,” said Mawela.
While Mawela addressed the media, mortuary vans drove through a large crowd to collect the deceased. From across the road, shocked residents could see limbs protruding through the tavern’s sliding gate.
Some injured patrons had managed to flee but collapsed in the tavern’s yard.
At midday, the community continued trying to establish the identities of the deceased.
Mondli Ndlangisa was among the crowd. It was confirmed his two brothers, aged 22 and 24, died in the shooting.
“I can’t describe the pain I am feeling. I am heartbroken. I need to inform my family in Mdantsane [Eastern Cape] about what happened to my brothers. This is painful,” said Ndlangisa, who was flanked by his neighbours.
According to Orlando East residents, the affected area has been without electricity for three weeks due to cable theft. The tavern had been using a generator to keep operating. Residents said it was dangerous to walk in the area when night falls.
Every day you hear the sound of a gun in this area
— Resident Mduduzi Mbatha
“Every day you hear the sound of a gun in this area, but yesterday’s sound was different. I thought it was firecrackers but when I heard the screams, I suspected something bad had happened. I came to check hours later, only to be told one of my friends was among the dead,” said resident Mduduzi Mbatha.
Similar scenes played out at Mputlane Inn Tavern in Katlehong on Friday night when three men stormed the venue and shot at patrons, killing two. It is suspected the attack was a hit on a patron.
“I was sitting with a friend when I heard gunshots. When I looked up, I heard one guy ask Sibusiso where his gun was. They shot him and one guy shot towards us. I pulled my friend to get under the table and heard more gunshots.
“After they left, it took us a while to get up from under the table because we were so scared,” said a witness.
On Sunday afternoon, the tavern was not allowing customers to sit inside and drink. Customers were allowed take-aways.
“We have to observe a mourning period and allow the families to come do their rituals and take the spirits of their loved ones,” said owner Margaret Motaung, 62, who has been operating the outlet for more than 12 years.
National Liquor Traders Association council convener Lucky Ntimane said the organisation is concerned about the targeting of taverns and the security of traders and patrons.
“The apparent targeting of a tavern in Nomzamo is of grave concern and the perpetrators must be brought to book swiftly to prevent further action. The targeting of taverns is particularly concerning as they provide social enjoyment for many people.
“This incident puts further pressure on the sector which has been hit hard during the Covid-19 lockdowns,” said Ntimane.
∗ Not his real name
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