In brief
In a devastating incident, gunmen opened fire in a tavern near Johannesburg, killing nine and injuring ten others. The attackers, believed to be part of a larger group, fled the scene in two vehicles. Authorities have initiated a manhunt as the nation grapples with soaring levels of gun violence.
South African police have launched a manhunt following a tragic shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal, near Johannesburg, which left nine people dead and another ten injured.
Approximately twelve unidentified gunmen arrived in two cars and opened fire at patrons inside the tavern around 1:00 AM local time on Sunday (23:00 GMT Saturday), continuing to shoot randomly as they fled the scene. The police confirmed that the tavern was operating under a license.
South Africa's murder rate is among the highest globally, at 45 murders per 100,000 according to the 2023-24 figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
This incident follows a similar outbreak of violence earlier this month, where at least 11 people, including a child, were shot dead at a hostel near Pretoria.
