Charges against tavern massacre suspects dropped

The National Prosecuting Authority has decided to withdraw criminal charges against all accused in the Nomzamo tavern shooting incident following thorough analysis of the contents of the dockets related to tavern shooting incidents around Kliptown and Orlando.

The deadliest incident occurred on July 9 last year in a shebeen in Soweto township.

A group of unknown men armed with rifles and pistols entered a local tavern at night in the Nomzamo informal settlement in the Orlando East area of Soweto and started shooting randomly at the patrons who were sitting inside.

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson for Gauteng local division Phindi Mjonondwane says the state will however continue with prosecution against Lepolesa Moshoeshoe on attempted murder charges in a Doornkop docket registered in September 2021 and Thembinkosi Kiviet on a murder charge registered with Orlando SAPS in April 2022.

“Six men were arrested and appeared at the Orlando Magistrates’ Court for charges related to the deaths of sixteen people that were killed at the Nomzamo tavern on 14 July 2022 when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons”, said Mjonondwane.

Mjonondwane added that the NPA concluded that there are no prospects of a successful prosecution, as requests for further investigation were not complied with due to witnesses fearing for their lives or witnesses subsequently losing their lives.