Five Dead and Six Injured in Tragic Bronkhorstspruit Tarven Shooting
The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature expresses its deepest concern and condemnation following the tragic shooting incident that occurred in the early hours of Sunday, 5 October 2025, at Qedukoma Tavern in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit.
Five patrons lost their including six individuals sustained injuries in a senseless act of violence allegedly involving known suspects and the illegal use of firearms.
The incident, which unfolded around 01:30, has left families devastated and the community in mourning.
“The Committee is alarmed by the brazenness of the perpetrators and the apparent ease with which firearms are accessed and used to commit heinous crimes. The Committee notes with concern that this incident comes shortly after the release of the national and provincial crime statistics for the last quarter. While these statistics provide a broad overview of crime trends, they do not sufficiently isolate and highlight the growing threat posed by gun-related violence in our province. We therefore call for the development of alternative and additional crime statistics that specifically track incidents involving firearms. This data will be critical in shaping targeted interventions, informing policy, and mobilizing communities against gun violence,” Committee Chairperson Dr Bandile Masuku (MPL) explained.
The Portfolio Committee will continue to monitor developments in this case the Department of Community Safety and the SAPS in the Province to strengthen community safety mechanisms, particularly in areas where alcohol is sold and consumed.
“We commend the swift response of law enforcement, including the station commander, local detectives, and the Provincial Task Team, and urge that all resources be mobilized to ensure the suspects are apprehended and justice is served,” Dr Masuku added.
According to police, eyewitnesses report that two men (known by some in the area), came into the tavern and demanded that one of the patrons hand over his licensed firearm. A shot went off and when the patrons ran outside, the suspects fired randomly. The patron with a firearm was shot and injured and his firearm was taken.
“The Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit has registered cases of five counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder. The Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Tracking Team is tracing the suspects,” police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed.
Joining the committee to call out this murderous act, ActionSA has expressed its outraged by the continuous mass killings across Gauteng, which continue to claim innocent lives with little to no accountability.
“These senseless killings are becoming a grim pattern across the province, yet justice remains elusive for countless victims and their families. Communities live in fear while perpetrators roam free, emboldened by a justice system that too often delays or outright fails to prosecute violent crimes. ActionSA condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the lack of urgency and accountability in investigating and prosecuting these crimes. We cannot continue to accept a system where murders are met with silence, delays, and empty promises from those tasked with ensuring public safety. We therefore call upon the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of Police to urgently intervene and deploy all necessary resources to ensure that those responsible for the Bronkhorstspruit killings are brought to justice without delay. Furthermore, we demand a comprehensive plan of action to address the escalating violent crime in Gauteng, including improved intelligence gathering, community policing, and visible policing operations in high-risk areas.” said the party’s Provincial Legislature Caucus Leader, Funzi Ngubeni (MPL).
Suspects are still at large.