Paballo Thakampane (32), Tumo Ntsane (19) and Boleba Motsamai Maliehe (18) appeared in court on charges of double murder and five counts of attempted murder linked to one of the incidents. The trio also face charges relating to the contravention of the Immigration Act.

The accused were remanded in custody until Monday (18/5), when they are expected to appear before the same court for a second appearance. Further charges are expected as investigations continue, said North West police spokesperson Cst. Thuto Bobelo.

Five people were killed and ten others injured during two separate shooting incidents at taverns in Kanana earlier this month.

“The acting provincial commissioner of North West, Maj. Gen. Ryno Naidoo, established a multi-disciplinary investigation team under the leadership of the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit to investigate the matter and apprehend the suspects,” said Bobelo.

In the first incident, reported on Friday night (1/5) at a tavern in Extension 13, three suspects allegedly arrived at the establishment and “opened fire randomly”. Two victims, 42 and 43, were killed, while five other people sustained injuries.

Meanwhile, in the early hours of Saturday morning (2/5) at another tavern in Extension 14, three suspects allegedly entered the tavern and again “opened fire randomly”. Three victims, 25 to 38, were killed and five others wounded.

Bobelo said information received on Saturday (9/5) was operationalised by the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, leading to the arrest of the three suspects “positively linked to the first tavern shooting in Extension 13”.

The latest incidents have revived memories of another deadly tavern attack in the North West. In 2022, five suspects allegedly murdered two people, including a tavern owner, in Wolmaransstad.

OFM News previously reported that the suspects entered the tavern late on a Sunday night pretending to be patrons.

The suspects allegedly spent time inside the tavern and were even playing pool before the attack unfolded after midnight.

They reportedly closed the main gate of the tavern, confronted the owner and shot him. It is also alleged that the owner’s wife was struck on the head with a beer bottle while the suspects grabbed an undisclosed amount of money. One patron inside the tavern and another person outside were also shot.

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