South Africa Reels From Two Mass Shootings Killing 27
Incidents in Johannesburg and Cape Town highlight the country's struggle with pervasive gun violence.
Twenty-seven people were killed in two mass shootings in South Africa that occurred hours apart, marking the latest instances of deadly gun violence to plague the nation. The attacks have underscored the country's ongoing struggle to curb high levels of gang-related armed violence.
In the first incident on Saturday evening, eight gunmen stormed a bar near Johannesburg, killing 17 people and injuring 15. Witnesses reported that the assailants opened fire on customers both outside and inside the establishment before fleeing in two vehicles.
Police stated that 13 men and four women died in the Johannesburg attack. The motive for this shooting remains unclear.
Less than 24 hours later, in the early hours of Sunday morning, a separate shooting outside an entertainment venue in a township near Cape Town resulted in 10 fatalities and 11 injuries. Five victims died at the scene, while the other five succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
Authorities have not yet made any arrests in connection with either incident. These shootings follow another violent event earlier in the week, where 11 people were killed in Durban after gunmen stormed a house in the KwaMakhutha township.