Families of PMB massacre furious as tavern is open for business the next day

Family members of victims who were killed when gunmen opened fire on patrons in a Pietermaritzburg tavern on Saturday are furious that it was business as usual on Sunday.

Police said the shooting at a Pietermaritzburg tavern on Saturday night that claimed the lives of four people and left eight injured was a random act.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lt-Col Nqobile Gwala said patrons were having drinks at Sakhi’s tavern in Sweetwaters when two men opened fire on them at about 8.30pm.

However, the bottle store was open and operating the following day, albeit under heavy police supervision.

Two families of victims who died said it was insensitive.

Mdumiseni Ngidi, 28, died on the scene after being shot on the chest.

His uncle and family spokesperson, Zithulele Zuma, said Ngidi worked at Dunlop in Howick and was a breadwinner.

He said it was Ngidi’s friends who told him about the incident on Saturday evening and took him to the tavern to confirm the body.

“What I saw there was just heartbreaking. I passed one body lying just outside the door. His body [Ngidi] was inside, but I think the others had been taken already. Between the door and his body was just a pool of blood,” he said.

He described Ngidi as a humble young man who was respected in the community.

He expressed his dismay at the news that it was back to business already at Sakhi’s tavern.

“That is shocking. So the police are there to make sure Mntambo [owner] continues selling without further incidents, but what about the grieving families,” he said.

“I don’t think it was appropriate to open today but what can we do? There’s nothing we can do.”

Ngidi questioned the safety measures at the tavern.

“It means more people are still going to die because no-one is mentioning anything about the security guards or anyone who makes sure that people don’t bring weapons inside,” he said.

The Nsele family, who are grieving the loss of Nkosingiphile, 35, who was also fatally shot on the scene, said they were still trying to come to terms with the shooting.

The unemployed father of two was described as a quiet man.

His sister Slindile Nsele said the family was surprised to see the business back in operation this morning.

“This morning around 10am, when we went to fetch a blanket we had left last night, the tavern was already open. They were cleaning our brother’s blood on one side and serving their customers on the other,” she said.

“Why would you be happy that you’re making money while the community is crying?”

“We expected the owner to call us to at least show the surveillance cameras that are outside, just to see the man who did this. Whether we recognise him or not is another issue, but he hasn’t said anything, instead he’s going about his business.”

Another relative, Nontobeko Nsele, said the tavern should be shut down altogether

“I think that place should be closed permanently. Every time I come home there is a scandal,” she said.

The community is still shocked, they are scared as one might expect. This is the first and hopefully the last time something like this happens since I started the business in 1992. I will need to tighten up the security.

—  Mbuyiseni Mntambo, tavern owner 

Mbuyiseni Mntambo, the tavern owner, said he was he not in the tavern but in a building next door at the time of the shooting.

He said the shooter left in a red car but returned afterwards to chat with a people who were in a white VW Polo, which is notorious for mugging people around the area.

“The community is still shocked, they are scared as one might expect,” he said.

“This is the first and hopefully the last time something like this happens since I started the business in 1992. I will need to tighten up the security.”

He said he had planned a huge event for July 30 but would have to think twice about it now.

“There was no fighting here. People were enjoying themselves as usual. Trouble came with the person from the red car. We don’t know the reason behind it because it didn’t start here,” he said.

Mntambo said he wold assist the authorities with the surveillance footage.

Speaking outside the tavern on Sunday, Bheki Mbanjwa, KZN Liquor board acting CEO, confirmed the tavern had an operating licence.

“As a provincial regulator, we are deeply shocked about this incident that has taken place on this premises. We have come to conduct an assessment on the compliance of this establishment and whether the security measures put in place (were sufficient). From the preliminary findings, the tavern has a valid licence,” he said.

“We are also going to cheque if the security measures that the owner submitted to us were actually complied with. You are responsible as a tavern owner for security measures within a five-metre radius, even outside your premises, so that’s what we are going to check.”

ANC Moses Mabhida regional spokesperson Njabulo Mtolo said the party was “distressed” by the recent surge of murders and other violent criminality in their communities.

“This anarchy is pushing our region to the brink. It has now reached unprecedented levels as criminals rob, hijack, kidnap and kill our people daily, pervading unspeakable horror in our communities.”

Mtolo said while there was a need for public office, the police and other related law enforcement agencies to strengthen their capabilities, fighting crime should not be seen as the sole responsibility of the government.

“It is only a united action from street and community level that will free us from this scourge of criminality that has engulfed our society. As Moses Mabhida region, we call on all our people to support and work with their street committees and CPFs in a united and consolidated manner to reclaim our streets.”

The DA also expressed outrage over the lawlessness.

In a statement on Sunday, the party said: “We are equally concerned by the attacks being carried out in places such as taverns, which appears to be a new trend.

“The question is: What kind of society have we become that criminals are taking innocent lives on a daily basis? And why are there no consequences for the vast majority of these murderers?”

The DA in KZN called for KZN’s SAPS commissioner and acting community safety MEC, Jomo Sibiya to ensure sufficient resources, including the involvement of a specialised unit to apprehend the criminals.

“The lawlessness within our province must be stopped. KZN’s people can no longer live in fear,” it said.