Police have arrested a 32-year-old suspect in connection with a mass shooting at a shisanyama in Lwandle that claimed the lives of 11 people and left 10 others injured in late September.

The suspect was arrested on Friday, 9 October, during a tracing operation conducted by the investigation team at an address in Lwandle.

The mass shooting occurred in the early hours of Sunday, 27 September, at approximately 01:15 at Kwandelo Shisanyama in Lwandle.

Three unidentified gunmen allegedly opened fire on patrons at the establishment, leaving 11 people dead and 10 others injured.

Colonel Andre Traut said that during the suspects’ arrest, police recovered a Norinco firearm and six cartridges. The firearm and ammunition were seized for further investigation and forensic analysis.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the firearm belongs to a deceased individual and had not previously been reported stolen or robbed.

Ballistics tests and further investigative work are underway to determine whether the recovered firearm was used in the mass shooting or any other related crimes.

The suspect has also been linked to a separate incident in Lwandle in July 2026, in which three people were shot and killed, and four others were wounded.

The victims were allegedly playing music in vehicles in the street when two men arrived and opened fire before fleeing the scene.

Investigations into both incidents are continuing, with police working to establish the possible involvement of other suspects.