JOHANNESBURG (AP) - In a tragic incident early on Sunday, nine people lost their lives and at least ten others sustained injuries following a shooting at a pub in South Africa. The shooting took place just before 1 a.m. in the Bekkersdal township, located approximately 46 kilometers (28 miles) west of Johannesburg. This event marks the second mass shooting in South Africa within a span of three weeks.
According to authorities, a group of around 12 unidentified suspects, traveling in a white mini-bus and a silver sedan, commenced shooting at patrons inside KwaNoxolo tavern, situated in the Tambo section of Bekkersdal. The suspects continued to open fire indiscriminately as they fled the scene, as noted by police. In a chilling account, police stated that some victims were shot at randomly in the streets by these unknown gunmen.
The provincial police commissioner, Major General Fred Kekana, shared details of the shooting with SABC television, highlighting that one of the deceased was a driver for an online car-hailing service who was present outside the pub when the incident occurred. In response to the shooting, officials have launched a manhunt targeting the suspects. The Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations unit is conducting the manhunt in collaboration with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit.
This incident falls within a disturbing trend of mass shootings that have occurred in South African bars, often referred to as shebeens or taverns. Earlier this month, a mass shooting at an unlicensed bar near the South African capital resulted in at least 12 deaths and 13 injuries. Additionally, another shooting in the Johannesburg township of Soweto in 2022 claimed the lives of 16 individuals, and on the same day, four more were killed in a separate mass shooting at a bar in a different province.
As of 2024, South Africa is grappling with a staggering homicide rate, recording nearly 26,000 homicides, which averages out to more than 70 per day. This alarming statistic places South Africa among the countries with the highest homicide rates globally, with firearms being recognized as the leading cause of death in these violent incidents. Despite the nation’s relatively stringent gun control laws, officials have noted that a significant number of murders are perpetrated using illegal firearms.
The ongoing violence and safety concerns within South Africa’s communities continue to raise alarms and highlight the urgent need for effective measures to address gun violence and the proliferation of illegal firearms in the country.
