Gunmen Kill 27 in South Africa Mass Shootings

At least 27 people were killed and 26 others wounded in two separate mass shootings in South Africa within hours, police said on Sunday.

The first attack occurred on Saturday night at a tavern in Wedela township, about 80 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg.

Police said eight gunmen armed with assault rifles and pistols opened fire on patrons at about 9:30pm. The attackers first targeted people drinking outside before entering the tavern and continuing the shooting.

Seventeen people died in the attack, including 13 men and four women. Another 15 people sustained gunshot injuries.

The assailants reportedly searched some patrons and took their mobile phones before escaping in two vehicles. They also set two vehicles on fire.

Police had yet to establish the motive for the attack. However, investigators were examining a possible link to a shooting at the same tavern last month. Authorities were also looking into possible tensions involving illegal mining in the area.

Hours later, another group of gunmen attacked an entertainment venue in Lwandle township near Cape Town.

Police said the attackers entered the venue at about 1:46am on Sunday and opened fire on patrons. Ten people died while 11 others suffered injuries.

Five victims died at the scene. The remaining five succumbed to their injuries while being taken to hospital, according to the police.

No arrests had been made in either attack as of Sunday. Police launched investigations and a manhunt for the suspects.

The shootings came only days after another mass shooting near Durban claimed 11 lives, including that of a pregnant woman.

The latest attacks have renewed concerns over South Africa’s persistent gun violence. The country has struggled with high levels of violent crime, while illegal firearms and gang rivalries continue to fuel deadly shootings.

Initial investigations into the latest attacks pointed to different possible motives. Police in Gauteng said one line of inquiry involved a possible turf war linked to illegal mining.

In the Cape Town incident, authorities were also examining a possible business rivalry as a motive. Police have stressed that investigations remain ongoing.

President Cyril Ramaphosa reacted to the violence by saying the situation could not continue. Security agencies have intensified efforts to track down those responsible.

South Africa has repeatedly deployed soldiers to assist police in areas affected by serious crime and unrest. In March, troops moved into violence hotspots in Johannesburg to support police operations.

The country also used military personnel during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and the riots that followed the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma in 2021. Troops returned to the streets in 2023 after a wave of truck burnings raised fears of wider unrest.

In 2019, about 1,300 soldiers supported police operations in the gang-affected Cape Flats around Cape Town. Despite those interventions, violent crime remains a major security challenge.

The latest shootings have added to a grim week for South Africa, where another 11 people died in a separate attack near Durban.

Police are now working to identify the gunmen behind the latest attacks and determine whether the incidents were connected to wider criminal networks.