Shebeen
1Min
South Africa
Dec 23, 2025
The acting Premier of Gauteng Jacob Mamabolo has commended the police for the arrest of a suspect linked to the Saulsville mass shooting. She said the police coordinated attempts and their commitment to bringing those responsible for the brutal murder to book following a nationwide manhunt that has resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old suspect.
The acting Premier of Gauteng Jacob Mamabolo has commended the police for the arrest of a suspect linked to the Saulsville mass shooting.
In a statement on Monday, Mamabolo said the police coordinated attempts and their commitment to bringing those responsible for the brutal murder to book following a nationwide manhunt that has resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old suspect.
This comes after the South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed the arrest of a suspect in connection with the brutal Atteridgeville mass shooting that claimed the lives of twelve people and wounded thirteen others. The arrest, made on 21 December 2025 in Limpopo, follows weeks of tireless investigations by Gauteng's Serious and Violent Crime Investigations unit.
It also comes just days after another tavern mass shooting in Bekkersdal where ten people were reportedly shot dead and ten others were injured on the weekend.
The 32-year-old suspect was apprehended as law enforcement officials tracked his movements beyond the boundaries of Gauteng. After receiving intelligence regarding the suspect's direction towards Botlokwa, the SAPS team collaborated with Limpopo police, sharing a detailed description of both the individual and the vehicle he was operating.
He was arrested on Sunday and he is one of three suspects linked to the heinous crime.
“During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a handgun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” said Gauteng police spokesperson Brenda Muridili.
Muridili said in a swift action, the Limpopo Tracking Team intercepted the suspect on the R101 road within the Westenburg policing precinct, adding that during the arrest, officers seized an unlicensed handgun, thought to have been employed in the horrific shootings, as part of their forensic examination efforts. This firearm will undergo ballistic analysis to confirm its role in the crime.
"The accused is expected to make his first court appearance at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on 22 December 2025, facing charges related to the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Following this initial appearance, he will be transferred to Gauteng to answer for additional charges related to the mass shooting, once procedural requirements are met," she said.
The tragic incident occurred on 6 December 2024, when three suspects unleashed a hail of gunfire at an illegal shebeen operating out of a hostel room in Saulsville. This brazen attack left a profound impact on the community, igniting an extensive manhunt by specialised police units eager to bring those responsible to justice.
