News24 | Tavern owner arrested after allegedly shooting patron he accused of having affair with wife

?A 44-year-old tavern patron in Bloemspruit has been shot and wounded, allegedly by a tavern owner who accused him of having an affair with his wife. (Jaco MaraisGallo Images/Die Burger)

• A tavern owner shot a patron after accusing him of having an affair with his wife. 
• The owner was arrested and his licensed firearm confiscated.
• In another incident, a tavern owner was shot multiple times during a live music event.

A 44-year-old tavern patron in Bloemspruit has been shot and wounded, allegedly by a tavern owner who accused him of having an affair with his wife.

Free State police say the victim was at the Phase Six tavern on Saturday night when the 62-year-old owner of the establishment confronted him.

Spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli said police were called to a local hospital at approximately 01:00 on Sunday after the man was admitted with gunshot wounds.

Kareli said preliminary investigations indicated that the victim was at the tavern at about 20:30 on Saturday when the owner confronted him, accusing him of having an affair with his wife.

"During the ensuing argument, the suspect allegedly discharged a firearm, wounding the victim in the right arm. The injured man was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment," he added.

Police arrested the tavern owner and confiscated his licensed firearm as part of the ongoing investigation.

"The suspect is scheduled to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 22 April 2025 for attempted murder," said Kareli.

In a separate incident on Saturday in Marble Hall, Limpopo, police have launched a manhunt for a suspect who allegedly shot dead a tavern owner and left four other people wounded during a live music performance.

READ | Six people shot dead at Mpumalanga tavern, 2 people taken in for questioning

Police said the owner was shot several times in the upper body while standing at the entrance of the tavern.

Three other people were also shot and wounded, while a fourth sustained minor injuries and was discharged from the hospital on the same day.

Marble Hall police were called to the scene, where they found several spent cartridges and projectiles. 

Limpopo police commissioner Thembi Hadebe condemned the shooting and ordered investigators to use all available resources to find and arrest the shooter.