Nine people were killed and ten others wounded when a group of heavily armed men opened fire at a tavern in Bekkersdal, west of Johannesburg, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police said about 12 gunmen arrived shortly before 1am in a white Toyota Quantum and a silver or grey Toyota Etios at the KwaNoxolo tavern in the Tambo section of the township. The suspects allegedly opened fire indiscriminately on patrons inside and outside the tavern before continuing to shoot randomly in the surrounding streets as they fled.
Five people were killed inside the tavern, three outside the premises, and another victim was found further down the road. Ten injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Among the deceased was an e-hailing driver who had reportedly dropped off a client and was waiting outside when he was shot. Police recovered AK-47 cartridges at the scene, indicating the use of high-powered firearms.
A major manhunt has been launched, led by Gauteng’s Serious and Violent Crimes unit, but no arrests have been made and the motive for the attack remains unknown.
This is the second mass shooting to rock South Africa this month, following a December 6 massacre near Pretoria in which 12 people, including children, were killed. Bekkersdal, an impoverished area affected by unemployment and declining mining activity, has long struggled with violent crime and tavern-related shootings. Police investigations continue.