Bekkersdal, South Africa – South African police have arrested 11 suspects in connection with a deadly mass shooting at a tavern in the Bekkersdal township, southwest of Johannesburg, that left 10 people dead and 10 others injured. The arrests include several undocumented miners, highlighting the ongoing issues with illegal mining and firearms in the region.

Details of the Bekkersdal Shooting

The mass shooting occurred on Sunday when approximately a dozen gunmen arrived in a minibus and a car, opening fire on patrons at the local tavern. Police confirmed that the suspects were found with unlicensed firearms, including four handguns and an AK-47 rifle.

Fred Kekana, acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, stated that cartridges and live ammunition recovered at the scene matched the types of firearms seized from the suspects. These items were sent for forensic testing to determine their involvement in the attack.

Authorities also arrested a South African mine employee facing charges related to harboring undocumented tenants and obstructing justice, further linking the shooting to illegal mining activity in the area.

Arrests Include Foreign Nationals

Among the 11 suspects arrested, nine were citizens of Lesotho and one was a Mozambican national. The arrests took place on Wednesday after police and security forces raided two houses outside Johannesburg, recovering weapons and ammunition tied to the tavern attack.

The tavern’s owner, Nonesi Matwa, was charged on Tuesday with fraud and operating an illegal liquor outlet. Matwa’s family insisted she was not responsible for the shooting, emphasizing that she did not “pull the trigger and kill the patrons.”

Context: Zama-Zamas and Illegal Mining

Bekkersdal and other townships west of Johannesburg are surrounded by abandoned mine shafts, making them hotspots for illicit mining operations. Undocumented miners, commonly referred to as “zama-zamas”, often operate illegally in these areas. Many of these networks are controlled by migrants from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, contributing to gang violence and the proliferation of illegal firearms.

The mass shooting underscores the ongoing security challenges in regions where illegal mining thrives. Despite South Africa’s stringent gun control laws, illegal firearms remain widely available, fueling violent crime.

South Africa’s Homicide Crisis

South Africa recorded nearly 26,000 homicides in 2024, averaging more than 70 killings per day, one of the highest rates globally. Firearms are the leading cause of these deaths, and law enforcement continues to struggle with illegal weapons trafficking and gang-related violence.

Bekkersdal’s recent tragedy highlights the intersection of illegal mining, gun violence, and undocumented labor, reflecting broader security concerns in South Africa’s mining townships. Authorities continue their investigations to identify any additional suspects involved in the tavern shooting and related criminal networks.