Update: Suspect in Saulsville mass shooting abandons bail after ballistics link gun to crime

The accused in the Saulsville tavern mass shooting abandoned his bail application after appearing at the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on a charge of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

This follows police confirmation that a ballistic report has linked a firearm seized from the suspect to the deadly shooting.

The gun was seized after one of the three suspects was arrested last week while travelling to Botlokwa in Limpopo. The arrest follows a coordinated operation between Gauteng and Limpopo police

The 32-year-old faces 12 counts of murder and 13 counts of attempted murder following the early-morning attack on December 6, 2025, that left a dozen people dead and 13 others injured.

During the arrest, police recovered an unlicensed firearm as well as several rounds of ammunition believed to have played a crucial role in the horrific attack.

On Tuesday, national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the recovered firearm was positively linked to the crime.

"Following ballistics testing, police can now confirm that the firearm seized by police during the arrest of this suspect has been positively linked to the crime scene in Atteridgeville," she said.

The case has been postponed to February 19, 2026.

On Wednesday, he will appear again before the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court where he is facing 12 counts of murder and 13 counts of attempted murder.  Notably, Mathe has indicated that the suspect's name will not be released until an identity parade is finalised.

Meanwhile, the search is ongoing for two additional suspects with alleged ties to the shooting. Police officials have urged citizens to assist with information that could lead to their capture, while the investigation into the motive behind the attack is still underway.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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