At least 10 people were killed and another 10 injured in a mass shooting near Johannesburg, South African police said, marking the second deadly incident in the country within weeks. The attack unfolded early Sunday morning in the Bekkersdal township, about 40 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg, when unknown gunmen opened fire in and around a tavern where locals were gathered.
Police from Gauteng province reported that around 12 unidentified suspects arrived in two vehicles—a white minibus and a silver sedan—before unleashing gunfire on patrons at the tavern and people in nearby streets. As the shooters fled, they continued firing randomly, adding to the chaos and devastation. Authorities have launched a manhunt for those responsible, though no arrests had been announced at the time of reporting.
Victims were rushed to nearby hospitals after the attack, and police are investigating the motive, which remains unclear. Officials said they do not yet have detailed information on the identities of those killed, and investigations are ongoing to piece together what drove the violence. This shooting is the second major mass shooting reported in South Africa in December. Earlier on December 6, gunmen attacked a hostel in the Saulsville area near Pretoria, killing at least 12 people, including a three-year-old child, and injuring more than a dozen others.
That incident highlighted the troubling pattern of violence that has gripped parts of the country. South Africa has long struggled with high rates of violent crime and gun-related violence, despite strict gun laws. Illegal firearms and gang activity are frequently linked to many of the shootings that make headlines. Experts and officials have repeatedly pointed out that the country’s murder rate remains one of the highest in the world, driven by poverty, inequality, and entrenched criminal networks. The Bekkersdal township itself is known for economic hardship, located near former gold mining areas, where unemployment and social challenges persist