27 Dead in Two Separate Mass Shootings in South Africa
Attacks occurred hours apart in townships near Johannesburg and Cape Town, following another deadly shooting earlier in the week.
At least 27 people were killed in two separate mass shootings in South African townships over a few hours on Saturday night and Sunday morning, police reported Sunday. No arrests have been made in connection with the incidents, which follow another mass shooting that left at least 11 people dead just five days prior.
The first attack occurred late Saturday night in the township of Wedela, southwest of Johannesburg. According to the South African Police Service, 17 people were killed when eight suspects armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols opened fire at patrons outside and inside a bar around 9:30 p.m. The victims included 13 men and four women. At least 15 others sustained gunshot injuries. Police stated that the gunmen took mobile phones from some patrons before escaping in two vehicles.
Approximately four hours later, in the early hours of Sunday morning, a second mass shooting took place in Lwandle township, near Cape Town. Ten people were killed and 11 were wounded when multiple suspects opened fire at a store. Police are searching for the perpetrators but have not provided an exact number of suspects.
This latest wave of violence comes after an incident on Tuesday night in KwaMakhutha township, south of Durban, where 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed during an attack at a house party by multiple gunmen.
South Africa has grappled with high rates of violent crime for years. While the country is accustomed to high homicide rates, the recent cluster of mass shootings has been particularly shocking. Experts note that while homicides have long been a problem, particularly in poorer communities and often linked to criminal gangs, the phenomenon of mass shootings, frequently carried out by multiple gunmen, is becoming more prevalent.
Other notable mass shootings in recent months include one in June that killed 12 people in a Johannesburg neighborhood and two incidents in December that collectively resulted in 21 deaths.
In response to the escalating crime, President Cyril Ramaphosa authorized the deployment of soldiers to the streets in March for a yearlong operation aimed at combating crime in severely affected areas, including those around Johannesburg and Cape Town. Ramaphosa has identified organized gang crime as the most significant threat to South Africa's democracy and economic development. Some critics have interpreted the deployment of soldiers as an acknowledgment of police shortcomings.
Official police statistics indicate a high number of homicides, with 5,427 recorded between April and June, averaging nearly 60 per day. Shootings are the most common method of homicide in South Africa, and a significant issue remains the high circulation of illegal firearms, according to police and crime experts.