Solo shooting sparks fear

Some residents of Fredman Drive in Sandton, north of Johannesburg, say they are living in fear following the shooting of three people at Solo Restaurant.

Speaking to YNews anonymously, a mother of one expressed concern over the perceived lack of regulation governing nightclub bouncers.

The woman has blamed, what she described as, overly aggressive bouncers for acting without restraint.

According to the police, the shooting began after a man, who is suspected to be the infamous businessman Sphamandla Mabonga, wanted to forcefully enter Solo with a gun despite its no-firearm policy.

An altercation ensued, leading to the fatalities.

Among the four injured are two patrons, a Community Policing Forum (CPF) member, and a security officer from the restaurant.

SAPS preliminary investigations reveal that Mabonga also died in the incident.

He previously had been arrested for a shooting incident at a Sandton restaurant last year.

Dude was also involved in this shooting pic.twitter.com/JKuoba90V5

— The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) March 7, 2025

Old videos of Mabonga and his musician and reality star former girlfriend have resurfaced on social media, including one of them dancing with guns.

That Sandton shooting guy Sphamandla Mabonga lived by the gun, died by the gun! pic.twitter.com/vm4Jc9xxN7

— Bishop from Juice (@am_sc17) March 7, 2025

Sphamandla Mabonga a Businessman & Hijacker who gifted Londie London hijacked cars, involved in yet another fatal shootout at Solo Sandton where him and his 2 Bodyguards were shot dead. Mabonga had forced his entrance at Solo after being banned. pic.twitter.com/iZdva1fTvH

— Keith T Mlauzi (@Keithteem) March 7, 2025

This incident has re-ignited the debate on the brandishing of firearms in public, specifically by private security. It has also sparked concerns about Joburg’s night life.

Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General, Tommy Mthombeni, revealed that the province has recorded a 6.3% increase in illegal possession of guns and ammunition between October and December last year.

Eyewitnesses of the deadly shootout at Sol in Sandton say they had to duck for cover as gunshots rang out from the restaurant.

Just survived a messy shooting at Solo Sandton 😭😭😭

— Obiyelweyinkosi❤ (@nhlanhlody) March 6, 2025

My partner just came home to tell me about a crazy shoot out that happened by Solo in Sandton haibo 🥲🥲🥲🥲

— Sinethemba Msibi (@sineh_msibi) March 6, 2025

There was a shooting at Solo in Sandton tonight. I was at Artistry and got stopped at a roadblock. The officer asked me if I’d been at Solo and I said “no but there was a shooting” and he said, “Yeah that’s why I was checking.” We’re all just calmly talking about gun violence 💀

— Gugulethu Mhlungu | Gogo Mpendulo (@GugsM) March 6, 2025

The establishment has released a statement, sending prayers to the injured in the tragedy, without mentioning the dead.