Seventeen killed in South African bar shooting
Gunmen opened fire at a tavern in Wedela, west of Johannesburg, on Saturday evening, leaving 15 others wounded.
Seventeen people were killed and 15 wounded when eight gunmen opened fire at a bar in Wedela, a township southwest of Johannesburg, on Saturday evening. The victims included 13 men and four women.
According to police, the gunmen arrived at the bar around 7:30 p.m. and fired shots both inside and outside the establishment. They allegedly searched some patrons and took their cellphones before fleeing in two vehicles, which were later found torched. Forensic officers and army troops were present at the scene.
Deputy provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana stated that the attack appeared to be a retaliation for an incident last month in which one person was killed and another wounded. He indicated that one of the victims in Saturday's shooting was being sought by police in connection with that earlier incident.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni said that South Africans, as well as individuals from Lesotho and Ethiopia, were present at the bar. While robbery is considered a possible motive due to the theft of personal belongings, police have not ruled out a link to turf wars between illegal mining groups. The township is currently the focus of a government crackdown on illegal mining operations.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday morning. A team of detectives and specialized units has been mobilized to apprehend the suspects.
This incident follows another mass shooting in Durban on September 22, where 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed when gunmen stormed a home. Hours before the Wedela shooting, ten people were killed and 11 wounded in a separate incident at an entertainment venue outside Cape Town.
South Africa experiences frequent shootings, often fueled by gang rivalries and disputes between informal businesses. The country has one of the highest murder rates globally, with an average of 60 people killed daily. In March, the South African government deployed soldiers to violence hotspots to support police efforts in combating crime.