3 People Killed, 4 Injured in Solo Restaurant Shooting in Sandton
- Seven people were shot, leaving three dead, in a violent confrontation at a restaurant in Sandton, Johannesburg
- An alleged known hijacker, Sphamandla Mabonga, is believed to have been killed along with his two bodyguards
- Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi told Briefly News the shooting happened at about 10.50pm
Source: Twitter
Tshepiso Mametela is a seasoned journalist and the Head of Current Affairs at Briefly News. He reported live from President Cyril Ramaphosa's inauguration and has written articles on politics, crime, courts, accidents, and topics including sports at The Herald and Opera News SA over several years.
JOHANNESBURG — A shooting at a popular restaurant in Sandton late on Thursday night, 6 March 2025, left three people dead and four others injured. Police have launched a murder and attempted murder investigation.
The deadly shooting occurred at about 10.50pm, Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said in response to a Briefly News inquiry.
Solo shooting leaves 3 dead, 4 injured
Reports suggest Sphamandla Mabonga, a known alleged hijacker, and his two bodyguards, were among those killed.
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Mabonga had reportedly tried to force his way into Solo Restaurant with firearms, contrary to the establishment's policy when a shootout ensued between his bodyguards and security.
Despite the circulating reports, including a trend on X about the incident, Nevhuhulwi ignored a request to confirm the establishment.
Briefly News can confirm Solo is situated on Gwen Lane and Fredman Drive. Videos and pictures paint a violent picture of the bloody eruption.
Source: Twitter
"Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to give the establish Sandton ment's name, but I can only confirm that it is a restaurant in Sandton," she said.
In a statement she furnished, Nevhuhulwi detailed the circumstances surrounding the incident.
"A man carrying a firearm [Mabonga] insisted on entering the restaurant against its no firearm policy. An altercation ensued, leading to a shooting between the man's bodyguards and security," she said.
She said emergency responders declared two bodyguards dead at the scene, while five victims were taken to hospital with gunshot injuries.
The then victims were the man believed to be Mabonga, two patrons, a crime prevention forum (CPF) member and a security guard working at Solo.
"The man succumbed to his injuries at the hospital," added Nevhuhulwi.
"A preliminary investigation revealed that police previously arrested the man for a shooting incident which also occurred in Sandton last year."
Meanwhile, police seized multiple firearms, while there are no arrests yet. Investigations are continuing.
Laudium shootout leaves 6 dead
In a related story, Briefly News reported that a heavy gunfight between police teams and suspected cash-in-transit (CIT) heist robbers left six suspects dead in Laudium on Monday, 24 February.
A seventh suspect was taken in without sustaining any injuries during the incident at about 5pm, with five unlicensed firearms recovered.
The shootout happened after Crime Intelligence police received information about a group en route to a heist in Atteridgeville from a Laudium safehouse. Several law enforcement teams were alerted to the suspects' movements.
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Source: Briefly News
