Survivor Reveals How Eight Gunmen Stormed Wedela Tavern, Shot Patrons in the Head and Returned Three Times

A night out at Dora’s Tavern in Wedela, west of Gauteng, turned into a horrifying massacre when eight armed gunmen stormed the establishment and opened fire on patrons.

The attack, which unfolded on Saturday night and continued into Sunday, left 18 people dead and another 18 wounded. It is one of four mass shootings recorded in South Africa during a five-day period in September, making the month the deadliest for mass shootings in the country this year.

Survivor Wendy Dlamini said she had gone to the tavern to buy six quarts. Her beers were still waiting at the counter when gunfire erupted outside and terrified people began running into the building.

“I heard gunshots outside and when I looked back, people, including the wounded, ran inside,” she said.

[do_widget id=super_rss_reader-3] –> –> Dlamini immediately threw herself under a pool table, believing it might offer some protection. Instead, one of the attackers climbed onto the table and began firing at people inside the tavern.

“I threw myself under the pool table. One of the gunmen jumped on the table, spraying bullets on patrons.”

Other men carrying rifles positioned themselves at different points inside the tavern, including near the entrance, the male toilets and the middle of the building. Dlamini said they also fired at people, leaving patrons trapped in the chaos as bullets tore through the crowded venue.

“Others, also armed with rifles, were at the door, male toilets and the middle of the tavern. They, too, shot randomly at people.”

The survivor’s hiding place was soon exposed. The gunman standing on the pool table spotted her, and their eyes met. Dlamini said she thought she was about to be killed.

The attacker asked her why she was looking at him before opening fire. A man lying next to her was struck in the back and head. Another man fell on top of Dlamini, apparently trying to shield himself or escape the gunfire.

“I pushed him away and he was also shot in the head.”

The gunman then shot another man who was lying close to Dlamini’s feet. She said the men were deliberately targeting the heads of those lying on the floor.

“The gunman then shot another man who was lying near my feet. He, too, was shot in the head. Then they started shouting at women who were screaming for help, asking what we were doing at the tavern,” Dlamini said.

The attackers eventually left, but the survivors were not safe. The gunmen returned moments later and opened fire again. They left and came back for a third time, creating fresh panic among the wounded and those still hiding inside.

“This time, they aimed at the heads of men lying on the floor,” Dlamini recalled.

She said the attackers laughed and sang in Sesotho as they searched the tavern. They took cellphones from the people inside before shooting at the establishment’s camera. The gunmen then ordered the survivors to stand up and run away.

“They were laughing and singing in Sesotho while they were searching everybody and took our cellphones.”

“They then shot at the camera. After robbing us, they told us to stand and run away. As I stepped outside, two cars were on fire.”

The motive for the attack remains under investigation. Police are examining possible links to violent clashes involving rival groups of illegal artisanal miners, known locally as zama zamas. Wedela has been identified as a hotspot for illegal mining activity and related violence.

Another survivor, Kedibone Molefe, said clashes between rival groups had become common in the area. She believed residents had been expecting a major attack, even though they did not know when it would happen.

“We knew it was going to happen. But when, we didn’t know. There have been many shootings between zama zamas in the area. The police are aware that Wedela is a haven for zama zamas,” Molefe said.

Molefe said she would leave the area if she had enough money to do so. Her comments reflected the fear among residents who say they feel trapped in a community where gun violence and illegal mining have continued for years.

Abona Mbangathe, who works at Dora’s Tavern, said there had been a clash outside the business two years earlier. She also said the tavern had security cameras, but the equipment had not been enough to deter the illegal miners.

Community leader David Nqulo blamed the police for failing to respond to residents’ complaints dating back to 2018, when illegal miners allegedly began vandalising Wedela Technical School.

The school was systematically stripped over a seven-year period. Trenches were dug across the property, while underground copper cables, electrical transformers and water pipes were removed. More than 1 400 pupils were left without electricity or reliable running water. Learners had to carry buckets of water to flush toilets and travel to neighbouring schools for technical and computer subjects.

“The school has no electricity and running water. Its infrastructure is stolen and destroyed by zama zamas. We have lost count of cases that have been opened because of the vandalism of the school,” Nqulo said.

He said stronger intervention could have forced the illegal miners out of the area before the tavern attack happened.

“If the police had acted and deployed the necessary resources, such as the army, at the time, zama zamas would have long fled our area. Today, we are here collecting bodies of innocent residents. Victims who were entertaining themselves when they were maimed by brazen men armed to the teeth,” Nqulo said.

The aftermath has left families devastated. During visits to bereaved households, it emerged that many of the victims knew one another and were neighbours. On a single street, three families were mourning five loved ones, including a 14-year-old child.

Relatives gathered together in tears, while some refused to speak because they feared the attackers had sent people to identify anyone talking publicly about the massacre. Outside the tavern, residents tried to clean away the blood. Others searched through the wreckage for belongings, collecting bloodied clothing, shoes and wigs.

Police have launched a manhunt for the attackers. No arrests had been made by Monday night, and the investigation was continuing as officers worked to identify those responsible for one of the deadliest tavern attacks recorded in Gauteng this year.

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