A 44-year-old man was shot seven times and his firearm taken near a tavern in Mandeni last Thursday.

According to police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza, the man was walking with a friend, heading towards a tavern in Madan Farm at Sundumbili, when a lone gunman approached them.

He fired multiple shots at the deceased, who collapsed, before allegedly stealing his firearm and turning it on the friend.

The friend fled towards the tavern and the assailant continued firing randomly at people outside the tavern before running away.

The man and another woman were both shot and injured.

Magwaza said police have opened one count of murder, four counts of attempted murder and two counts of armed robbery.

This incident took place just a short distance from Ntshalanang Tavern in the Bhidla Section of Sundumbili, where four people, including two off-duty police officers were killed last month.

The violence was believed to have been sparked by a dispute among tavern patrons. The two slain officers were identified as Phakamani Khuzwayo and Lethukuthula Madlala, both of whom had joined the police force in 2023.

Four others were also injured during the attack.

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