1 dead, 2 injured as gunmen open fire at Barrage tavern

A night of chilling at a tavern turned into a bloodbath when armed robbers stormed Ha Lesole in Malbank, in the Barrage/Vanderbijlpark region, southern Gauteng, shooting dead a 24-year-old and wounding two others, reports Sedibeng Ster.

The horror unfolded in the early hours of Saturday morning (October 10) when a gang of four armed men allegedly stormed the tavern and robbed patrons of their belongings and emptied the cash registers.

The walls and roof of the tavern still bear bullet holes, a chilling reminder of the deadly attack that left patrons fearing for their lives.

Tavern owner Nthabiseng Lesenyeho relived the terrifying ordeal during an interview with Ster, describing how patrons were forced to lie face-down on the floor as gunshots rang out.

“It was around 01:30, just as we were about to close the shebeen. There is normally a group of patrons who enjoy standing outside.

“Just before I was about to close, I saw them casually walking inside the establishment, signalling that something was wrong,” she said.

Lesenyeho said she became suspicious when she noticed unfamiliar faces entering the venue.

Moments later, gunshots rang out as the armed men ordered everyone to lie on the floor.

“I heard gunshots and a commanding voice from those faces I didn’t know. The robbers then demanded money and cellphones as they continued searching everyone on the ground,” she said.

One of the robbers allegedly went towards the cash point while the gang continued terrorising patrons.

Lesenyeho said her brother was shot when he attempted to leave through another entrance.

“Several more patrons were shot during the robbery, showing how serious the situation was. After they took the money and our belongings, the shebeen went quiet. We were locked inside before they fled the scene,” she said.

As the dust settled, 24-year-old Molefe Mokone lay dead in a pool of blood after being shot in the head.

When the Ster team visited the tavern, his brother was at the scene performing rituals to collect his younger brother’s soul.

With tears in his eyes, Thato Mokone recalled that the family last saw Molefe on Thursday.

“We live in the same yard. The whole of Friday he was never seen at home, until we got a report on Saturday morning that he was no more,” he said.

The grieving brother said the family was devastated by the sudden loss, especially because they had hoped for a bright future for the young man.

“What breaks me the most is how we had hoped for so many great things from him. All we wish we could do is answer why they had to kill him because they had gotten what they wanted,” he said.

Mokone said the family was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy and hoped justice would prevail.

Acting Sedibeng police commissioner Brigadier Doctor Sebuyi confirmed the incident.

He said police were investigating cases of robbery, attempted murder and murder.

“At this moment, no one has been arrested; however, investigations are underway,” he said.

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