New Police Minister Firoz Defended Criminal Rights, Then the Olieven Massacre Happened.

Olievenhoutbosch Tavern Massacre Deepens Fury as New Police Minister Rejects “Shoot to Kill” Amid Crime Surge

Pretoria & Johannesburg, July 19, 2025 The nation is reeling after yet another tavern mass shooting, this time in Olievenhoutbosch, Pretoria, where five people were gunned down in a brutal attack by a group of at least ten unknown assailants. The tragedy unfolds just days after Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia made headlines for cautioning against aggressive policing tactics, drawing intense backlash from communities demanding protection and justice.

At around 10:30 PM on July 18, gunmen stormed a tavern in the Shoba informal settlement, opening fire indiscriminately. Two women and three men were killed, while at least three others were seriously wounded. The motive remains unknown. Gauteng police have launched a murder investigation and an urgent manhunt.

“They just opened fire without warning,” said a survivor, still in shock. “It felt like a war zone. No one is safe anymore.”

This massacre comes amid a wave of violent tavern shootings across the country, from Soweto to Pietermaritzburg to Gqeberha part of what experts say is a growing crisis linked to gang turf wars, drug syndicates, and poor policing.

🚔 A Nation at War with Itself  and a Minister Warning Against Force

In a sharply contrasting moment earlier this week, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia stated that “giving police a license to kill is not the answer” to violent crime, rejecting so-called “shoot to kill” rhetoric long echoed by his predecessors.

He emphasized the need for professional, intelligence-driven policing, warning that excessive force risks turning police into criminals themselves.

“What we need is not angry rhetoric, but well-trained, well-led officers who respect the rule of law,” Cachalia said at a media briefing in Johannesburg.

But these remarks have struck a nerve particularly among South Africans watching friends and family slaughtered in taverns, in the streets, and in their homes, with little to no justice.

“Tell that to the families in Olievenhoutbosch,” tweeted one user. “We’re being murdered in cold blood, and all we get is talk.”

⚖️ Political Fallout & Public Distrust

Cachalia was appointed Acting Minister on August 1 after President Ramaphosa placed Senzo Mchunu on special leave amid explosive claims that he protected politically connected criminals and disbanded elite crime-fighting teams. A judicial commission has since been appointed to investigate alleged corruption and criminal capture of SAPS and the justice system.

While many hail Cachalia’s legal credentials, others accuse him of academic idealism in the face of a brutal, lawless reality. Critics say the government’s obsession with process and rights has come at the cost of lives.

💥 A Country on Edge

• In the first half of 2025, South Africa has seen more than 40 tavern and public shootings, many with no arrests.

• Public trust in SAPS is at record lows, with communities taking justice into their own hands in places like Olievenhoutbosch and Orange Farm.

• Calls for militarised policing are growing louder while legal groups warn of a return to apartheid-style brutality.

📢 Public Reaction

• Civic groups demand the immediate deployment of tactical units to crime hotspots.

• Families of the victims in Olievenhoutbosch say they feel abandoned and ignored.

• Legal experts and opposition parties are split some praising Cachalia’s constitutional approach, others saying it's dangerously out of touch.

🧾 What’s Next?

• SAPS continues the manhunt for the Olievenhoutbosch shooters.

• The judicial commission into SAPS corruption and political interference begins hearings this month.

• Cachalia has promised to unveil a national crime intelligence overhaul plan by August.