Two people were killed at the White House Tavern in Madras near Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga, in the early hours of today (May 30).

Mpumalanga News reports the murders bring the number of fatal shootings recorded in the Calcutta policing precinct this month to eight. The Calcutta Police Station serves Mkhuhlu, a township near Hazyview that has gained notoriety for gun violence in recent years and been dubbed the ‘land of blood’.

Double murder under investigation

In the latest incident, which occurred at about 00:20, police were called to the scene of a shooting.

“Upon the members’ arrival at the scene, they found two people with multiple gunshot wounds inside a silver Hyundai vehicle. One of the victims was male, and the other one was a woman,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane.

An ambulance was called and both victims were declared dead on the scene.

Ndubane added that members of the local criminal record centre processed the scene.

“A total of 28 rifle cartridges and 10 9mm pistol cartridges were found. The motive for the killing is unknown,” she said.

The male victim was identified as Bheki Mkhabela. The woman had not yet been identified at the time of publication.

The bodies were transported to the Mapulaneng Government Mortuary as investigations continue.

Series of unsolved shootings

While no arrests have been made in connection with the fatal shooting of Joseph ‘Big Joe’ Nyalungu in Mkhuhlu on May 16, two suspects have been arrested in connection with three murders that occurred in nearby Marite later that night.

At the time of his death, Nyalungu was facing multiple charges and was allegedly linked to a rhino poaching syndicate.

Police have also yet to make any arrests in the fatal shooting of a Phelophepa Health Train pharmacist and a second victim at a tavern in Ximhungwe, also under the Calcutta policing precinct, on May 22, the night before Nyalungu’s funeral.

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