A funeral meant to bring people together in mourning turned into a crime scene when gunshots rang out at Ga-Molepo in Limpopo. A 30-year-old man was arrested on the spot for attempted murder after allegedly opening fire on another attendee during the gathering.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the incident unfolded in the early hours of Saturday. Authorities rushed to the scene after receiving reports of gunfire. By the time officers arrived, the victim had already been rushed to a nearby hospital, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Officers recovered several spent bullet casings, and the weapon believed to have been used in the shooting was also found at the scene. The suspect was immediately taken into custody and charged with attempted murder.
At this stage, police say they are still trying to determine the motive behind the shocking attack.
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, Limpopo’s provincial police commissioner, expressed deep concern, saying, “We cannot tolerate such senseless acts of violence, especially during funerals where families are supposed to find comfort and closure. We urge our communities to resolve conflicts peacefully.”
The suspect is expected to appear in court on Monday.
This disturbing incident isn’t the first of its kind. In 2022, a fight between alleged gang members turned deadly at a cemetery in Mpumalanga, leaving two young men dead. What began as a group heading to dig a grave ended in gunfire, highlighting the alarming trend of violence disrupting sacred moments of grief.