Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said the investigation into the mass shooting at Kwandelo Shisanyama at Lwandle, Strand, was still ongoing and the motive for the mass shooting that claimed 11 lives has not yet been conclusively established.
“The investigation remains active and is being pursued to establish the full circumstances of the incident and to identify any further persons who may be implicated,” Cachalia said.
Cachalia stated this in his reply to written parliamentary questions from Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana, who enquired about the mass shootings at Lwandle and Wedela in Gauteng.
In September, three gunmen allegedly opened fire on patrons at Kwandelo Shisanyama, killing 11 people and injuring 10 others.
Police had ordered premises to stop operating
A 32-year-old man has since been arrested in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He appeared at the Strand Magistrate’s Court on October 12 on charges of murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
In his written questions, Gana wanted to know the number of suspects arrested and whether the police have established any links between the shootings and organised criminal networks.
He also asked about intelligence-led policing measures that were in place in the affected areas before the incidents as well as measures that have been implemented to prevent further mass shootings.
Cachalia said prior to the Lwandle incident, the police applied an intelligence-led approach in the Lwandle area, which included monitoring activities at the affected premises and assessing identified compliance and operational risks.
He also said information received indicated that the premises did not possess the required compliance licence.
Police step up operations to recover illegal firearms
“Acting on this information, the SAPS formally instructed the owner on the Friday preceding the incident to cease operations. This intervention formed part of the measures taken to address the identified risk and to prevent the continued unlawful operation of the premises.”
Cachalia further said the police had after the incident activated a coordinated intelligence-led investigation, which resulted in the identification and arrest of a suspect.
“To date, the investigation has not established any links to organised criminal networks,” he said.
The minister also said in an effort to prevent further mass shootings in Lwandle and surrounding high-risk areas, the police continued to conduct intelligence-led operations.
“These operations are intended to disrupt violent-crime networks, strengthen police visibility, identify armed suspects and reduce the risk of retaliatory attacks.”
Regarding enhancement of detection and confiscation of illegal firearms, Cachalia said the police conduct operations at station and district level, focusing on identified crime hotspots and wanted suspects.
“These operations include stop-and-search activities, firearm tracing, targeted suspect tracing, compliance inspections and the execution of search warrants where applicable.
There were also dedicated firearm search-and-seizure operations that result in the recovery of illegal firearms.
“These interventions are aimed at disrupting the circulation of illegal firearms, strengthening crime prevention efforts and reducing the availability of weapons used in violent and organised criminal activities,” he said, adding that the measures also applied to the Lwandle area.