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Police Investigate Multiple Murders Following Family Celebration in Orange Farms

GAUTENG: A tragic shooting at Mokokotlong informal settlement in Orange Farms during the early hours of 13 October 2024 left seven individuals dead and four injured. The incident erupted following a dispute between a local tavern owner and a resident.

According to South African Police Service, the altercation began when a man visited the local tavern to purchase alcohol, only to find it closed. Following a confrontation with the tavern owner, the man returned home where his family was celebrating post-lobola negotiations. Reports indicate that the tavern owner followed the man to his residence, entered the home, and began shooting, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals, including a three-year-old boy. The victims comprised five family members, a neighbor, and a friend.

The assailant, after the attack, returned to his home in Evaton where he reportedly inflicted a gunshot wound upon himself. He was transported to a hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. Survivors of the attack include a 31-year-
old and a one-year-old boy, both of whom were hospitalized with injuries. A 24-year-old woman and a four-year-old child escaped physical harm.

The Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit has since registered seven counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and an inquest into the incident.