The main accused in three deadly tavern shootings is a dangerous former Hawks officer who knows the police system in and out, has direct access to police minister Bheki Cele and is part of a court case where a key state witness has been murdered.
Three recent tavern shootings can be traced back to the rivalry between two Basotho zama zama gangs, leading to at least 22 people being “hunted and killed” in cold blood.
This was revealed by Col Friccah Nofana Masilela in an affidavit before the Orlando magistrate’s court to oppose bail against one of six men arrested in connection with the Mdlalose Tavern shooting in Nomzamo Park, Soweto, where 16 patrons were gunned down.
The main accused, a former Hawks officer and the secretary-general of the Basotho gang known as Terene ea Mokata, and his five co-accused cannot be named as per the court’s order. They face a litany of charges ranging from murder, attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms, linked to their rivalry with the Terene ea Chakela gang.
The violence started after a faction of Terena ea Chakela broke off from the main grouping and formed Terene ea Mokata.
Masilela, the lead investigator into the Nomzamo Park massacre, told the court Terene ea Mokata was believed to be behind shootings at the Mdlalose Tavern — and another two sprees at taverns in Soul City informal settlement on the West Rand and in Protea South.
Masilela painted a picture of a violent history between the two groups that culminated in 36 police dockets in Gauteng, North West and Free State “and various other matters all over the country involving the premeditated murder of people also involved in the illegal mining enterprise”.
He said the first of “what has become known in SA as tavern killings” occurred on January 23 2022.
“Members of Terene ea Mokata group arrived at a tavern in Soul City, Kagiso, and started to shoot at the patrons in and around the tavern. During the shooting three patrons were killed, and seven were wounded. The tavern targeted was known for its Basotho clientele. Two leaders of the Terene ea Mokata were present and participated in this shooting,” said Masilela.
In another incident, which occurred at MG Tavern in Protea South, Soweto, on February 4 2022, Masilela said three men were killed and four wounded after members of Terene ea Mokata allegedly attacked the tavern.
Masilela said police also linked the group to a robbery that occurred on July 9 2022, a few hours before the Nomzamo tavern massacre, in which two men were robbed of their belongings before being ordered to provide the location of a tavern where Basotho men drank.
He said he opposed bail for the high-ranking gang member because he would influence or intimidate witnesses.
He said the accused knows many of the witnesses who are to testify against him when the trial begins because many of them are linked to his organisation or its opposition.
“The applicant certainly has strong ties within SAPS, and this is evident and supported by the fact that he managed to arrange a meeting with police minister [Bheki Cele] in person,” said Masilela.
He was referring to August 15, when Cele met leaders of the Terene ea Mokata gang to discuss claims that the organisation’s members were responsible for the massacre. Cele’s spokesperson Lirandzu Themba at the time confirmed the meeting took place. “It was initiated by the grouping. It was short, and concluded that operational people of the police follow up urgently on the matters raised.”
“There exists a strong possibility that the accused might influence witnesses. At this juncture it is relevant to state that one of the key witnesses in these matters was found murdered. A potential witness in this matter has also been threatened and questioned by some members of the applicant’s society group on whereabouts,” said Masilela.
He described the accused’s position within Terene ea Mokata as important and influential.
“At this stage it is evident that after the split they started hunting and killing all the members of Terene ea Chakela. It is clear the applicant before court knows very well how the law operates [he was a member of SAPS for a considerable period], as he mentioned in his affidavit. All charges here, including murder, were premeditated, and it will be easy for the applicant and all the accused to cause jeopardy in the functioning of the justice system,” he said.
“As it is, some [of his co-accused] have run to Lesotho, making it difficult for investigations. The suspects in this matter have escalated to searching and shooting prominent members of Terene ea Chakela.”
However, the former Hawks officer, in his affidavit which was read out in court in December last year, claimed the Nomzamo tavern murders were carried out by Terene ea Chakela, saying they killed their own members in the massacre.
The former Hawks officer said accused one and two confided in him that they were behind the massacre after they sought revenge against members of Terene ea Mokata for the murder of a Lesotho musician in Kliptown a week earlier.
He said accused one and two believed the musician, who was a member of Terene ea Chakela, was murdered by members from the opposing group. He said on the night of massacre, the pair were informed that members of Terene ea Mokata were drinking at the Nomzamo tavern.
“Accused one and two, with other people from their group, went to Nomzamo Tavern to kill the people from our group as revenge. But they did not check who was inside, and they just opened fire. Fortunately our members had already left the tavern, and the shooters killed some of their own members.”
The matter was postponed to February 15, when judgment on bail application is expected.
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