Bekkersdal Massacre: Charges dropped against six suspects while five remain in custody

The police have dropped the charges against six individuals who were arrested alongside five others initially suspected to be involved in the Bekkersdal tavern mass shooting. 

The six men were facing charges related to being in the country illegally. 

They were arrested alongside five Lesotho nationals who appeared at the Westonaria magistrates court on Monday.

They are facing charges of being in possession of illegal firearms, live ammunition and being in the country illegally.

The group was arrested on December 24, 2025, in two houses in Westonaria after a police and private security raid. 

The six people were meant to be charged with being in the country illegally were ultimately released from police detention because of delays of confirmation from home affairs. 

The Westonaria magistrates court subsequently removed their case from court roll due to lack of evidence.

Five other remaining suspects have been charged with being in possession of illegal firearms, live ammunition and being in the country illegally.

Police say the group still need to be identified through an identity parade before they are linked to the Christmas eve attack.

Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said "when they appeared unfortunately, we didnt have the statements from the department of home affairs especially for the illegal immigrants hence the case for those other five was not enrolled". 

Masondo added the firearms retrieved from the arrest of the five men are undergoing ballistic testing.