Up next
Author
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
Nine people were killed when gunmen opened fire at a bar outside Johannesburg early Sunday, police said, in the second such shooting in South Africa this month.
Ten more were wounded in the early morning attack at the tavern in the impoverished Bekkersdal township in a gold mining area around 40 kilometres southwest of the city.
It follows a shooting at a tavern near Pretoria on 6 December when gunmen killed a dozen people, including a three‑year‑old child.
Police initially said 10 people were killed when the Bekkersdal bar was attacked just before 1am local time, but later revised the toll downwards.
Most of the attackers were armed with pistols and one had an AK-47 rifle, deputy provincial police commissioner major general Fred Kekana told SABC television from the scene.

“They entered the tavern and began shooting randomly at the patrons without any provocation,” a spokesperson confirmed.

Police officers are seen behind barricade tape along with vans.

The South African Police Service has initiated a manhunt to apprehend the suspects involved in this violent incident. This announcement underscores the urgency and seriousness with which authorities are treating the case.

Tragically, three individuals lost their lives inside the establishment, and more victims were targeted as they attempted to escape. The assailants continued their attack as they made their getaway, according to reports from the scene.

The police remain committed to bringing those responsible to justice and are actively pursuing all leads in their investigation.

South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised nation, is grappling with a high crime rate, much of it driven by organised networks and gangs.
The country is awash with legal and illegal firearms and shootings are common, often fuelled by gang rivalry and competition between informal businesses.
The tavern hit in the Pretoria attack earlier this month was an unlicensed outlet in a hostel for migrant workers at Saulsville township.

The dead included children aged three, 12 and 16.

The country was also shocked by the daylight assassination in central Johannesburg last week of a popular former radio presenter known as DJ Warras.
The 40-year-old, whose real name was Warris Stock, was gunned down on 16 December outside a building that he had visited as part of his work with a private security company.
In another high-profile killing, a witness in a corruption inquiry was shot dead in front of his family on 5 December, just weeks after testifying against a municipal police chief.

The murder of Marius Van der Merwe, 41, reignited a debate about the targeting of whistleblowers who provide information related to crime and corruption, including the public sector and cases implicating government officials.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with an average of 63 people killed each day between April and September, according to police data.
In one of the worst mass shootings in recent months, 18 relatives were shot dead at a rural homestead in the Eastern Cape province in September 2024.
The victims, who had gathered for a traditional ceremony, were aged 14 to 64 years old, and 15 were women. Several men have been arrested.
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
You May Also Like

Commemorative Gathering at Bondi Beach: Australia Honors Massacre Victims One Week Later

Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, is remembering…
NSW Premier Chris Minns

Premier Condemns Planned Protests Amidst Ongoing Crisis: ‘Respect Those in Mourning

Chris Minns, who is pushing for parliament to grant “extraordinary powers” to…

NSW Premier Advocates for Royal Commission and Vows to Prohibit Controversial ‘Globalise the Intifada’ Chant

NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced his government will introduce new laws…
Victoria Police insist the measure of having some officers carry semi-automatic longarm weapons at the Boxing Day test between Australia and England is simply precautionary, and not in response to a new potential threat.

Enhanced Security: Police to Arm with Semi-Automatic Guns at Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test

Today, an announcement was made indicating that “specialist” officers would receive enhanced…
Man charged with trying to spark violent protest on Sydney beach

Sydney Beach Incident: Man Accused of Inciting Unrest

A New South Wales man who allegedly published a call for violent…

Israel Greenlights 19 New West Bank Settlements to Counter Palestinian Statehood Efforts

Israel has approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied…

U.S. Coast Guard Engages in High-Stakes Chase of Oil Tanker Near Venezuelan Waters

The US Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters…
Adelaide prison security breach

Unprecedented Security Breach Unveiled at Adelaide Prisons: What You Need to Know

An investigation is under way into a suspected security breach at two…