Wessels Morweng made the remarks on Monday (1/6), during visits to bereaved families in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district municipality. These included the family of a girl, 15, who was killed during a shooting incident outside a tavern in Kanana near Orkney.

Police are investigating cases of murder and attempted murder following the shooting, which was reported on Saturday night (30/5) at a tavern in Kanana.

North West police spokesperson Adéle Myburgh said police responded to reports of gunfire and found four people with gunshot wounds lying near the entrance and outside the tavern.

Preliminary investigations revealed three unidentified male suspects, armed with rifles and wearing face coverings, were responsible for the attack. However, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, and no arrests have been made.

“During the incident, a 15-year-old girl sustained fatal gunshot wounds and collapsed near the entrance. As the shooting continued, patrons scattered in various directions in an attempt to escape,” said Myburgh.

The other three deceased victims were identified as Lesotho nationals, aged 30 to 36. Two Lesotho women, 30 and 45, also sustained gunshot wounds and were admitted to the hospital for medical treatment.

During his visit to affected families, Morweng also met the relatives of community activist Mokoena Letsie in Ikageng, Potchefstroom. Letsie was shot multiple times in what is suspected to have been a targeted hit.

Letsie was associated with the South African Council of Churches and was the founder of Potch4Palestine, a movement advocating for Palestinian solidarity.

Paying tribute to Letsie, Morweng said: “We define him as a social activist who stood for justice in society. An attack on an activist is an attack on democracy, an attack on the rule of law (and on) the voice we need in society. It can’t be that descending voices are being silenced in society.

“As government, we are appreciative of any voice, be it a voice that agrees with us, the voice that gives us difficulty, because that’s part and parcel of our democracy. An attack on democracy is an attack on accountability because Mr Letsie represented what we call accountability.”

Morweng assured families and communities affected by the recent violence that law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice. He also expressed confidence that the suspects involved in the Kanana tavern shooting would soon be apprehended and brought to book.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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