WEB DESK: At least 11 people were shot dead and several others injured after gunmen attacked a tavern near Johannesburg, South African authorities said.
The shooting occurred in the early hours of Sunday at a bar in Bekkersdal, a mining community about 40 kilometres southwest of the city. Police reported that the attackers arrived in two vehicles and began firing at people gathered at the venue shortly before 1 a.m.
Initial reports put the death toll at 10, but this was later revised to 11. Around ten additional victims were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. According to police, the assailants continued shooting indiscriminately as they escaped the scene.
Among those killed was a driver working for an online ride-hailing service who was outside the bar at the time, provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana told local broadcaster SABC. Authorities have launched a large-scale search for those responsible.
This incident marks the second mass shooting in South Africa this month. Earlier in December, attackers killed 12 people at a hostel in Saulsville near Pretoria, including a young child. Police said that location was operating as an illegal alcohol outlet.
South Africa continues to struggle with high levels of violent crime, often linked to gangs, disputes between informal businesses, and the widespread availability of illegal firearms. Although gun ownership is regulated, many unlicensed weapons remain in circulation.
Police statistics show that between April and September, an average of 63 people were killed each day nationwide. Officials say many of these deaths result from personal disputes, while robberies and gang-related violence also play a major role.
