Samuel Masemola, accused in the Blue Room nightclub double murder, abandoned his bail application in Pretoria Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday.
Blue Room nightclub: How a Pretoria party hub hosted a double murder
In the early hours of 15 October 2023, a tragic shooting incident unfolded at the Blue Room nightclub in Pretoria Central.
In a statement, state prosecutors revealed that Masemola, 37, from Pretoria West, was leaving the nightclub’s parking lot when he nearly hit Gratitude Maluleke, who was standing with her husband, Arnold Andzani Mashaba, and a friend.
This near-miss escalated into a heated argument, during which Masemola retrieved a gun from his vehicle and opened fire on the group.
The confrontation turned deadly as both Maluleke and Mashaba were fatally shot at the scene.
Their friend, who managed to escape, suffered gunshot wounds to his leg. Following a tip received on Monday, 13 November 2023, police were able to locate Masemola.
He was summoned to the Pretoria Magistrates Court, identified by the complainant, and subsequently arrested.
During his appearance at the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court, Masemola decided to abandon his bail application.
He faces charges of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. The case has been adjourned to 11 December 2023 for court allocation.