The suspect facing 12 murder charges regarding the Saulsville mass shooting has had his case postponed to February 23 following his most recent court appearance.

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, said the suspect had allegedly confessed to his involvement in the shooting when arrested on December 22 in Limpopo with an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in his possession.

Ballistic testing would later confirm that the firearm found in his possession was used in the mass shooting.

The shooting occurred in the early hours of December 6, when the accused and other alleged accomplices opened fire at an illegal tavern at Saulsville hostel, killing 12 patrons and injuring 13 others.

Mthombeni said they are still searching for other suspects.

“The matter has been postponed due to the possibility of taking this case and the one from Polokwane to be worked jointly. I must say that in terms of the mass shooting, we are still looking for another three suspects,” Mthombeni said.

The commissioner said the shooting is possibly due to ongoing gang turf wars in the area, referencing the murders and attempted murders of suspected gang leaders in 2023, which culminated in splinter groups battling for territory.

The groups’ criminal activities include extortion rackets targeting spaza shops, construction sites, and other local businesses.

ALSO READ: Two on the run, one faces 25 charges for Saulsville hostel shooting

Mthombeni said the matters are still under investigation, and the police will continue to do their duty by investigating and arresting members of criminal syndicates operating in the area.

Following the suspect’s December 31 appearance at the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court, the case was postponed, as authorities requested more time to investigate the suspect’s links to other crimes.

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