The pair in police custody are believed to have been the triggermen.
Eight people died on Saturday, while three others were injured after heavily armed men fired shots at a tavern in Pienaar.
According to Mpumalanga police, six victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others, a woman and a man, succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
During a media briefing on Wednesday, Acting Provincial Police Commissioner Zeph Mkhwanazi and Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety Jackie Macie stated that based on their ongoing investigations, they believe they have identified the correct suspects.
“At this stage, we can safely say where we are seated right now, we are confident that the people whom we wanted based on what we have gathered at the scene and the evidence – if there is anything that might come up, the investigation will assist us, but for now we are comfortable with the two suspects,” said Macie.
One of the suspects, Bongani Nkosi, appeared in the Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
READ MORE : Second suspect arrested for Mpumalanga mass shooting
The matter was postponed to next Tuesday for a formal bail application, together with the second suspect, Mduduzi “Kehla” Lubisi.
It was also revealed that a third suspected in the matter was shot during the shooting and later died.
“There was a gentleman who came there and started shooting at that place, and as a result, the owner of the tavern closed the tavern. After the shooting, he (the first gunman), but when he returned, he returned with two VW polos, then all of a sudden, two people emerged and started shooting,” Mkhwanazi added.
It was also announced that the tavern and the adjacent coffee shop will remain closed for 30 days as they are still considered crime scenes.
The MEC expressed his satisfaction with the police’s progress.
“There is no need for us to panic because the police are doing a good job. We are excited and happy with what they are doing. They must keep it up,” he said.
“All of us, we are assisting and giving them support.”
The motive for the mass shooting remains unknown.
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