At Least 9 Killed, Several Injured After Armed Men Open Fire At Township In South Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa: At least nine people were killed and several others wounded in South Africa’s Johannesburg after armed men opened fire at a tavern in Bekkersdal township in the city just before 1am local time on Saturday. The deceased include a child.

Police have issued a statement announcing that they have started a manhunt for the culprits behind the mass shooting incident. According to the police, Around 12 unknown suspects in a white minibus and a silver sedan opened fire at tavern patrons and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene.

Read Also: At Least 9 Including Children Wounded In Rochester Hill Water Park Shooting, Attacker Found Dead

The unknown attackers opened fire on patrons of the tavern and people in the streets outside, as per a report by South African public broadcaster SABC. The injured have been shifted to hospitals.

The latest Bekkersdal attack comes amid high levels of gun violence across South Africa, with frequent incidents.

Read Also: “Opportunity For Revenge”: Abduction And Massacres, 1000s Of Syrians Flee To Lebanon

Notably, another similar incident had occurred earlier this month, as gunmen opened fire on an unlicensed tavern at a hostel in Saulsville township near the capital Pretoria, killing a dozen people. In September 2024, around 18 people were shot dead at a rural homestead in Eastern Cape province.

An  average of 63 people were killed each day between April and September in South Africa, Al Jazeera reported citing police data.