An alleged Afrika Mayibuye member and candidate councillor has been arrested after a shooting that left two ANC Youth League (ANCYL) members dead and five other people injured in Katlehong North on Tuesday evening.

The suspect, identified as Fani Sibeko, allegedly opened fire on a group returning from a memorial service for slain ANC and ANC Youth League leader Jeanette Magugu at Mogobeng Primary School.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the shooting occurred in Sophangisa Street at approximately 6.50 pm on Tuesday, October 13.

Two men, aged 23 and 21, were declared dead at the scene, while five other people, aged between 12 and 27, sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Police confirmed that the suspect handed himself over to officers and remains in custody.

The case, involving charges of murder and attempted murder, has been assigned to the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) for further investigation.

The motive for the shooting has not yet been established.

The incident has shocked the Katlehong community, with the alleged political affiliations of the suspect and victims placing the shooting under renewed scrutiny.

According to information obtained by African Times, Sibeko is an Afrika Mayibuye candidate councillor in Ward 51. Sources allege that the victims were ANCYL members attending the memorial service when the shooting occurred.

The gathering was held in memory of Magugu, who was killed earlier this month.

The shooting allegedly took place after the memorial service, when an armed man opened fire on the group.

The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear, and investigators will have to establish what happened before the gunfire erupted, whether the victims were specifically targeted and whether the incident was politically motivated.

Although the shooting has been linked to political affiliations, police have not publicly confirmed a motive in the information provided to African Times.

The official police account confirms that seven people were shot, with two fatalities and five people injured. The injured victims, aged between 12 and 27, were transported to hospital for treatment. Their current conditions have not been confirmed.

The assignment of the case to the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team means the investigation will be handled by a specialised unit responsible for investigating politically linked killings.

The team will investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and injuries, including the events leading up to the shooting and the alleged involvement of the suspect.

Sibeko reportedly handed himself over to police following the incident and is now in custody as the investigation proceeds.

Afrika Mayibuye had not issued a public statement or provided comment on the shooting and allegations at the time of publication.

African Times contacted Afrika Mayibuye mayoral candidate Themba “SkeemGP” Lukhele for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.

The police investigation continues, with the suspect facing murder and attempted murder charges.

The case is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting that left two young men dead and five others injured, as the Katlehong community seeks answers about the violence.