17 illegal firearms seized in Mpumalanga amid recent murders
The past weekend alone was brutal for the country, as mass shootings claimed the lives of at least 28 people and wounded nearly 35 others in separate incidents.
From 24 to 27 September 2026, the South African Police Service (Saps) in Mpumalanga, along with various law enforcement agencies, carried out Operation Shanela across the province. A total of 1 142 suspects were arrested during this operation. The operation resulted in the seizure of 17 illegal firearms, including 14 handguns, two rifles, and one shotgun, as well as 709 rounds of live ammunition.
The weekend preceding this operation was particularly violent, with mass shootings claiming the lives of at least 28 people and injuring nearly 35 others in separate incidents. The first incident occurred at a tavern in Wedela, Carletonville, where 18 individuals lost their lives, leaving nearly two dozen dead. The second shooting took place in Lwandle, Western Cape, resulting in the deaths of 10 people and injuring 11 others.
Apart from these weekend murders, other killings were reported in Ekurhuleni, where the 11th woman's body was discovered in Springs. President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the recent mass killings and announced intensified security measures to address the rising murder rate in the country. Ramaphosa expressed confidence that the suspects responsible for the shootings would be apprehended, with police actively searching for at least eight suspects.
Following the shootings in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, the police chief, assembled a multidisciplinary team to investigate these tragic incidents.
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