A 33-year-old man who was one of the victims injured during the Pienaar, Mpumalanga, mass shooting at 04:00 on Saturday, January 11, passed away on Monday night.

According to an article published by Lowvelder, provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane yesterday said that the victim died in an undisclosed hospital.

His death brings the number of victims who passed away during and following the shooting to nine.

Meanwhile, the two suspects arrested in connection with the murders briefly appeared in the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Ndubane said Bongani Nkosi (39) and Mduduzi ‘Khehla’ Lubisi (43) have abandoned their bail application, albeit provisionally, and were remanded in custody pending their next court appearance on March 28.

They are facing multiple charges of murder, attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Nkosi was arrested in Pienaar just before midnight on Sunday, January 12, and was found in possession of an unlicensed pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition.

Lubisi was arrested in Pienaar 24 hours later and was found in possession of three unlicensed firearms, without ammunition.

Acting provincial police commissioner Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi recently told the media in a briefing that though it is possible more suspects will be arrested, Lubisi and Nkosi are the main culprits.

He said the recovered firearms will be sent for ballistics tests to establish if they have been used in the commission of crime elsewhere.

The motive behind the shooting remains a mystery.