A joint operation saw several people being arrested for various offences in Ermelo on 19 March.

Several people were arrested for offences that ranged from driving under the influence of alcohol to illegal possession of firearm and public drinking.

According to Mr Moeti Mmusi, spokesman of Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL), several taverns and crime hot-spots around Ermelo were visited.

“During the operation, three suspects were arrested in connection with an incident where six people were shot at a local tavern on Thursday,” Mr Mmusi said.

Two of the six people who were shot, died at the scene.

Three people sustained serious injuries while the fourth person was critically wounded and is still in the hospital.

Mr Mmusi said, the suspects were charged with two counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder.

“One of the suspects was further charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

“Many of the taverns and shebeens disregarded the National Disaster Regulations for Covid-19 in terms of social distancing, wearing of face masks and sanitisation,” Mr Mmusi said.

The operation was lead by MEC Vusi Shongwe of the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison.

According to Mr Mmusi, police and traffic officers came together to patrol and visited 14 liquor outlets and taverns to ensure compliance while enhancing law enforcement visibility which is also critical to crime prevention.

Read the complete article in the Highvelder newspaper.