By The Youth Voice Reporter
Tonga / Nkomazi – Community members who fire guns at funerals are being warned that they risk immediate arrest and prosecution, as law enforcement moves to end a dangerous practice that has increasingly become a feature at some burials, particularly those linked to criminal elements.The warning follows an incident in the Naas area of Tonga, where two men aged 35 and 40 were arrested after allegedly discharging firearms during a funeral on Friday, 12 December 2025.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of mourners and nearby residents, as stray bullets fired during such events can cause serious injury or death.Funerals are meant to be places of mourning and dignity. However, in many communities, gunfire has become normalised, turning burial ceremonies into high-risk gatherings where innocent lives are placed in danger. Authorities say this behaviour will no longer be tolerated.The arrests in Tonga came after law enforcement received information that firearms would be discharged during the burial of a man believed to have been involved in criminal activities.
Officers were deployed to observe the funeral and intervene if necessary.During the burial at the cemetery, officers witnessed firearms being discharged and moved in swiftly. Two suspects were identified from separate vehicles, tactically approached and apprehended at the scene.One suspect was found in possession of a shotgun with two empty magazines. Although the firearm was licensed, police allege that the suspect contravened the Firearms Control Act by discharging it in a public place. The second suspect was found with a 9mm pistol, a magazine and 165 live rounds of ammunition.Both suspects have been charged and were expected to appear before the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 15 December 2025, on charges related to the unlawful discharge of a firearm in a public place.
Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, praised the officers involved and reiterated the dangers posed by firearms at public gatherings.“Firearms in the wrong hands are hazardous and deadly. We urge members of the community to consider the danger of firearms and always put the safety of other citizens first,” he said.Authorities have urged communities to abandon the practice of firing guns at funerals, stressing that no cultural or social justification outweighs the risk to human life. Residents are encouraged to report illegal firearm use and work with law enforcement to ensure funerals remain safe spaces for families to mourn without fear.