At least nine people were killed and nine others injured in a mass shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal, southwest of Johannesburg, in the early hours of Sunday. Police said around 12 unidentified gunmen arrived in a white kombi and a silver sedan, opening fire on patrons and continuing to shoot randomly as they fled.
Among the victims is a driver working for an online ride-hailing service. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects.
In a statement, the police said that the attackers in two vehicles “opened fire at tavern patrons and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene.” A manhunt for the attackers has been launched.
The incident is the second mass shooting in South Africa this month. Two weeks ago, gunmen killed at least 11 people, including children, at an illegal drinking venue in Saulsville township near Pretoria.
South Africa continues to face extremely high levels of violent crime, with one of the highest murder rates in the world. “On average, 63 people lost their lives to violent crime in South Africa each day between April and September,” police data cited by AFP shows.
Authorities have appealed to the public and witnesses to provide information that could help identify and apprehend the attackers.
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