The man accused of the deadly tavern shooting in Bronkhorstspruit which claimed five lives earlier this year has abandoned his bail application.

According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, 33-year-old Xolani Musawenkosi Xulu from Brentwood Park in Benoni appeared before the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on November 3.

Xulu decided not to proceed with his bail application.

Mahanjana said Xulu faces five counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder following the shooting at Qedukuma Tavern in Zithobeni on October 5.

“It is alleged that he opened fire inside the tavern, killing five people and injuring three others.”

Mahanjana said the case has been postponed to January 13 for further investigation and directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

After an intensive investigation by police, Xulu was arrested on October 21.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the arrest came after a co-ordinated operation by the Gauteng Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Investigation Unit, working with officers from the Bronkhorstspruit SAPS.

“The teams arrested one of the suspects wanted in connection with the tavern shooting incident that occurred in Bronkhorstspruit on October 5,” Muridili said.

She added that the suspect was traced and arrested during a police operation in Zithobeni, the same township where the shooting occurred.

At the time of the arrest, Xulu was charged with five counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder.

Muridili said police reported that five of the injured victims have since been discharged from hospital while one remains under medical care.

He said police responded to reports of gunfire at the tavern at about 01:30.

Witnesses told investigators that two men, known in the community, entered the tavern and demanded a patron’s licensed firearm.

“A shot went off, and when the patrons ran outside, the suspects fired randomly. The patron with a firearm was shot and injured, and his firearm was taken,” said Muridili.

Police are still searching for the second suspect involved in the attack.

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