Multiple Fatalities Reported in South Africa Tavern Shooting

A tavern in Bekkersdal, a township near Johannesburg, South Africa, became the scene of a deadly shooting, leaving at least nine dead and 10 injured. Law enforcement has launched a manhunt for approximately 12 suspects believed to be involved.

According to a police statement released on Sunday, the incident occurred just before 1 a.m. local time. It is alleged that a group of individuals, numbering around a dozen, arrived in a white kombi and a silver sedan before opening fire on patrons inside and outside the establishment as they fled.

The tavern, authorities confirmed, is properly licensed. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported that the assailants targeted both people inside the tavern and those on the street.

Fred Kekana, the acting police commissioner of Gauteng, stated that investigators are actively collecting statements. A national crime management team has been dispatched to the scene, along with provincial crime scene management personnel, a local criminal record center team, serious crime investigators, crime intelligence, and the provincial crime detective team, according to SABC.

Among the deceased was a ride-hailing service driver who was waiting outside the tavern, Kekana noted. The motive behind the attack remains unclear. While initial reports suggested 10 fatalities, the number was later revised to nine.

The injured individuals have been hospitalized for treatment. This incident follows a previous shooting earlier this month at an unlicensed tavern in Saulsville township, near Pretoria, where a dozen people, including a young child, were killed.

South Africa grapples with significant levels of violence, and such shootings are often linked to criminal organizations and rivalry among informal businesses. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.