Wedela community shaken after Dorah’s Tavern mass shooting

At least 17 people were killed and dozens injured after gunmen attacked Dorah’s Tavern in Wedela Ext 3, near Carletonville, on the night of September 26, according to The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media). The assault has left residents fearful and prompted a heavy security response.

What happened

According to The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media), patrons were drinking inside and outside Dorah’s Tavern at about 21:00 when eight attackers arrived and opened fire on those outside. The suspects then entered the tavern and continued shooting at patrons inside. The suspects were reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols.

The gunmen allegedly searched some patrons and took their cellphones before fleeing the scene in two unidentified motor vehicles. Two vehicles parked in an open yard opposite the tavern were set alight during the incident.

Casualties and injuries

The attack killed 17 people 13 males and four females and injured at least 15 others, who were taken to medical facilities by Gauteng EMS. One of those injured later died, The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media) reports.

Survivors’ accounts

Survivors told the Carletonville Herald about chaotic scenes as the gunmen moved through the area. An unnamed woman who had been selling goods on the sidewalk opposite the tavern described being chased and threatened.

“I could feel the gun against my head. I prayed until the man left me,”

The same witness said she saw attackers pull a man hiding under a parked car out from underneath it before setting the car alight, and later heard the gunmen enter the tavern and shoot people inside.

Community reaction

Residents told the Herald they no longer feel safe in Wedela. “People now have a fear of staying in Wedela,” resident Sithembile David Nqulo said, as reported by The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media).

Four women living close to the tavern told the Herald:

“We cannot sleep. We do not feel safe here anymore,”

and

“It is alright here during the day when the police and everyone is around, but we do not know what will happen at night. We fear for our lives and those of our children,”

according to The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media).

Community activist Lunga Zithutha said he had planned to go to the tavern that night but did not, and later learned two of his sister’s friends, Sinawe Zama and Novaleza Vilakazi, were among the dead.

“I cannot explain it, but something told me not to go,”

he told the Herald, as cited by The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media).

Zithutha also suggested a behavioural change for residents:

“People staying in Wedela should stop renting out their back rooms to zama-zamas,”

The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media) reported.

Possible motive and official response

Although police said the motive was unknown, residents believe the attack is linked to fights between rival gangs of illegal miners and is likely a continuation of violence on August 19 and 24 involving zama-zamas, according to The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media).

By the morning of September 28, the streets of Wedela Ext 3 were full of police and SANDF vehicles, after Gauteng police had mobilised a team of detectives and other specialised units to trace and apprehend the suspects, The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media) reports.

Scene and scale

The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media) described SANDF members standing in front of the tavern, with shoes and other belongings of the deceased and injured still lying on the stoep.

The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media) also described the incident as one of the biggest mass shootings ever to occur in South Africa.

Charges opened

Police have opened 18 counts of murder, 15 counts of attempted murder and two counts of malicious property damage, according to The Citizen (Carletonville Herald / Caxton Local Media).