JOHANNESBURG: In a horrific & tragic incident, Atleast 27 people were killed and another 26 injured in two separate mass shootings in South Africa within hours, as heavily armed gunmen opened fire at the entertainment venues near Johannesburg and Cape Town. The attacks, which left two communities grieving, come days after another shooting in Durban killed 11 people. The incidents have renewed concerns over soaring organised crimes, illegal posession of firearms and escalating gun violence in the country.
Two Mass Shootings Leave At Least 27 Dead In South Africa
At least 17 people were killed in an attack at a tavern near Johannesburg, with police searching for eight armed suspects.
Another 10 were shot dead in Lwandle near Cape Town, as the motive behind the attacks remains… pic.twitter.com/wPhBxOr81b
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17 killed in tavern shooting near Johannesburg
The first attack took place at a tavern in Wedela, in the West Rand District of Gauteng province, west of Johannesburg, on September 26, Saturday night. According to the South African Police Service, patrons were drinking both inside and outside the tavern when eight armed men arrived at around 9:30PM. The attackers first opened fire on the people outside, before entering the premises and continuing to shoot at those inside.
Seventeen people were killed in the attack, including 13 men and four women, while another 15 people sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to medical facilities. Police said that the attackers were armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols/shotguns. Some patrons were reportedly searched during the assault and had their mobile phones taken.
The gunmen fled the scene in two unidentified vehicles. Police later found two vehicles near the tavern that had been set on fire. Authorities have opened 17 murder cases and 15 attempted-murder cases and launched a manhunt for the eight suspects. The motive has not been officially established.
Deputy Provincial Police Commissioner Maj Gen Fred Kekana said that the investigators had obtained clear images of some suspects and in certain cases, knew their names. He also said that the attack could potentially have been retaliation linked to an earlier incident in which one person was killed and another wounded.
10 killed in second shooting near Cape Town
Only a few hours later, another mass shooting was reported in Lwandle, a township near Cape Town in the Western Cape province. Gunmen entered an entertainment venue selling grilled meat at around 1:46AM on September 27, Sunday and opened fire on the patrons.
Ten people were killed and another 11 were wounded. Five victims died at the scene, while five others later succumbed to their injuries after being taken for medical treatment. Western Cape police have established a specialist investigation team, with Serious and Violent Crime detectives leading the probe.
No arrests had been announced in either shooting and police have not confirmed any connection between the two attacks. Investigators are expected to examine witness accounts, firearms evidence and available CCTV footage as they attempt to identify the attackers and establish their motives.
Attacks come days after 11 killed in Durban
The latest bloodshed comes just days after another mass shooting in KwaMakhutha township in Durban, where gunmen reportedly stormed a house and killed 11 people, including a pregnant woman, while three others were wounded.
The succession of attacks has intensified concerns over the availability of illegal firearms and the ability of criminal groups to carry out deadly attacks in communities across the country. South Africa has struggled with high levels of violent crime for years. National crime statistics indicate that roughly 58 to 60 people are murdered every day, making gun violence a persistent security challenge.
The government has increasingly deployed security forces to areas experiencing severe violence. Earlier this year, soldiers were deployed alongside police in crime hotspots to support efforts to combat armed violence. President Cyril Ramaphosa has previously described organised crime as a major threat to South Africa’s democracy, society and economic development.
