Fireworks explosions light up the sky above Nelson Mandela Bridge. Picture: Halden Krog/Gallo Images A dispute over the use of fireworks to ring in the New Year has resulted in the death of one person in the North West province. Police in Lethabong near Rustenburg have opened two dockets – one of murder and another of malicious damage to property – following the incident.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane, the stabbing occurred at a tavern in Lethabong in the early hours of Thursday, 1 January 2026, at about 03:25. It is alleged that patrons were at a tavern in Lethabong when some individuals, who were also inside the tavern, started igniting fireworks. “Those who were against this confronted them, which led to a fight that started inside the tavern and then moved outside.
During the commotion, a 38-year-old victim was stabbed with a sharp object and died instantly. “Thereafter, a group that was with the deceased allegedly attacked the suspect, who managed to flee the scene on foot. The group then identified the suspect’s vehicle that was parked nearby, and set it alight,” Tselanyane said.
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It is alleged that after the suspect learned that his vehicle had been set alight and feared returning to the tavern, he went to the police station to seek help. “After being identified as a murder suspect, he was immediately arrested and detained. The 45-year-old suspect is expected to appear before the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court in Tlhabane on Monday, 05 January 2026, on a charge of murder.
The possibility of further arrests is not ruled out,” Tselanyane said. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, condemned this incident in the strongest possible terms. “It is disappointing that despite numerous warnings regarding the careful use of fireworks, some members of the community continue to act recklessly to the extent of even discharging fireworks in a tavern, and a person ends up losing their life.”
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