‘They were shooting everyone’: Carletonville mass shooting survivor recounts horror

‘They were shooting everyone’: Carletonville mass shooting survivor recounts horror Nokuthula Khanyile Mon, 09/28/2026 - 07:00

• Warning: The story contains some details which may be graphic.

JOHANNESBURG - A night out with friends turned into a scene of horror when gunmen opened fire inside a tavern in Carletonville, leaving 17 people dead and 15 others wounded.

Among those who survived the mass shooting is Aphelele Mangidana, who was inside the tavern with his girlfriend and two friends when the shooting began.

Mangidana says the gunmen fired indiscriminately, leaving patrons scrambling for their lives.

“It really felt like I was dead, that’s why I just lay there, pretending to be dead, because they were just shooting, not looking who’s who.”

When the shooting subsided, Mangidana says he escaped the tavern with his girlfriend. The pair ran into a nearby yard as panic swept through the area.

**READ | **Police hunt killers after 17 gunned down in Carletonville tavern

But one of his friends, Masixole Rhexana, did not survive.

Rhexana’s brother, Abongile Rhexana, says he arrived at the tavern shortly after the shooting and found his brother among the dead.

“When I came here, I found my brother lying there inside the tavern. I don’t know what happened.”

He says he was left devastated after seeing his brother’s body.

“When I saw him face to face, I was just weak.”

Mangidana believes the shooting may be linked to tensions between rival groups of illegal miners, commonly known as zama zamas.

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“This is a war for zama zamas, not the community,” Mangidana says. “The community didn’t do anything to anyone but they’re suffering now.”

He says those responsible must be held accountable.

“That’s all I want to see, justice for my friend.”

Authorities say they are confident arrests will be made soon as investigations into the massacre continue.