Ramaphosa Vows to End Mass Shootings After Wedela Tavern Attack Kills 18
- President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the Wedela tavern shooting that killed 18 people in the West Rand on Saturday, 26 September 2026
- Technology is already helping security forces identify eight suspected gunmen linked to the deadly attack
- Gauteng police confirmed only four of the deceased have been identified so far, with five victims critically wounded
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SOUTH AFRICA — President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the mass shooting at a Wedela tavern in the West Rand that left 18 people dead on Saturday night, 26 September 2026.
He vowed that security forces would spare no effort in combating violent crime.
Ramaphosa speaks on the attack
Ramaphosa described the attack as evidence of an urgent national crisis, stating that technology was already being deployed to assist police in tracking down the eight suspected gunmen believed to be responsible for the killings.
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"This is the level of criminality that we must break down and our security forces will pull out all the stops," he said.
The president stressed that the response could not end with identifying suspects.
"That in itself is not the only thing we should do, we cannot be a country where people just pick up guns and start shooting at people at random. This must be brought to an end," Ramaphosa said.
Gauteng police reveal victim details
Gauteng police spokesperson Brenda Muridili provided an update on Monday morning, confirming that the death toll had risen and that the identities of most victims remained unconfirmed.
"Only four of the deceased have so far been identified as two South Africans and two Lesotho nationals. All the injured victims in hospital have been identified," Muridili said.
According to the information provided to the police, five were shot in the upper body and are critically wounded, while the others are in a stable condition.
Several motives under investigation
Police have not yet established a clear motive for the attack. Investigators are pursuing several lines of inquiry, including robbery, retaliation, and a possible connection to illegal mining operations active in the West Rand region.
Mass shooting in KwaMakhutha
In similar news, 12 people were killed during a mass shooting in KwaMakhutha, Durban.The attack took place on the night of 22 September 2026 in the Iziko section of KwaMakhutha township, roughly 30 kilometres south of Durban. It was reported that three unidentified gunmen entered a residential property where 14 people had gathered for a party at approximately 11:00 PM.
Families deny links of crime or drugs
Previously, Briefly News reported that families of the eleven people killed in a mass shooting in KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, have rejected suggestions that their loved ones were involved in organised crime or drug syndicates.One of the bereaved mothers, Nomusa Zulu, spoke out against accusations circulating about the victims' backgrounds. Zulu, who lost two sons in the attack, Sicelo and Mlungisi Zulu, said the pair had no involvement in local criminal activity. She described them as having been socialising with friends, sharing drinks, when the gunmen struck.
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Source: Briefly News
