At least one suspect was arrested last night, Sunday, January 12, following the shooting that claimed eight lives in Pienaar in the early hour of Saturday morning.

According to sources, police detectives found the suspect at a house in Pienaar just before midnight.

A provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, has confirmed the arrest.

“A 39-year-old male suspect was arrested in Pienaar on Sunday night, January 12. The team has managed to make a breakthrough and during the arrest police confiscated a pistol with 13 live rounds ammunition,” said Ndubane this morning (Monday January 13).

ALSO READ: Eight people confirmed dead after shooting in Pienaar

“The suspect is expected to appear in court soon,” added Ndubane.

The shooting happened next to a tavern on Saturday at about 04:00.

Six people including a woman died on the scene, while another woman and a man succumbed to their wounds in hospital.

Three others are still in hospital while one was discharged.

The victims’ ages range from 19 to 45.

ALSO READ: Six people shot dead in Pienaar

The acting provincial police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, visited the scene yesterday (Sunday, January 12).

He said that preliminary investigations pointed to gang wars as the reason for the shooting.

He gave instructions to the detectives to leave no stone unturned.

Information on why the tavern was open at 04:00 is subject to investigations.

According to a woman from the tavern owner’s family, the licence demands that it closes at midnight.