A late-night shooting at a township tavern west of Johannesburg has left at least nine people dead and 10 others injured, prompting a large-scale police manhunt and renewed concern over violent crime in South Africa’s urban communities.
The attack unfolded shortly before 1am on Sunday in Bekkersdal, a township about 40km south-west of Johannesburg.
According to Al Jazeera, multiple armed suspects arrived in two vehicles and opened fire on patrons inside the venue, before shooting at people outside as they fled.
Police said the assailants arrived in a white kombi and a silver sedan. ‘It is reported that about 12 unknown suspects… opened fire at tavern patrons and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene,’ police said in a statement.
Authorities later confirmed that the tavern was licensed.
As details emerged through coverage carried by global media, police said a coordinated response was activated within hours of the shooting.
Acting Gauteng police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana told the SABC that multiple specialist units had been deployed to the scene.
‘We are still busy obtaining statements. Our national crime and management team has arrived,’ Kekana said, adding that crime scene experts, detectives and intelligence officers were also present.
Among those killed was a driver working for a ride-hailing service who had been outside the tavern at the time of the shooting.
Those wounded were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. While early reports suggested the death toll may have been higher, authorities later revised the figure to nine.
At this stage, police said the motive for the attack remains unknown. Speaking to international wire services, officers confirmed that no arrests had yet been made and that a manhunt was under way for the suspects involved.
Some victims were reportedly shot in the surrounding streets as they attempted to escape. ‘Some victims were randomly shot in the streets by unknown gunmen,’ police added.
The incident comes just weeks after another mass shooting at a hostel tavern near Pretoria, where 12 people, including a three-year-old child, were killed. That attack was linked to an unlicensed alcohol outlet.
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