At least 27 people were killed during dual mass shootings near South Africa's primary metropolitan areas, Reuters reported, as the nation deals with elevated homicide rates and internal law enforcement probes. The South African Police Service stated that eight assailants armed with AK-47s and handguns killed 17 patrons and wounded 15 others at a Wedela township bar 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Johannesburg. A further 10 people were killed and 11 wounded in Lwandle, near Cape Town, with authorities hunting multiple suspects.
These massacres follow a house party shooting near Durban that claimed 11 lives, including a pregnant woman. No arrests have been made. According to The Guardian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on television: "This cannot go on like this. This is the level of criminality that we must bring down, and our security forces are now going to continue pulling out all stops."
Gauteng authorities launched a manhunt for the eight Wedela suspects. Police spokesperson Capt Tintswalo Sibeko issued a police statement stating, "It is alleged that patrons were drinking inside and outside the tavern when the suspects arrived and opened fire on those outside. The suspects then entered the tavern and continued shooting at patrons inside. The suspects were reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols. They allegedly searched some patrons and took their cellphones before fleeing the scene in two unidentified motor vehicles. Two vehicles were also set alight during the incident."
Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni told reporters the attack may involve a "turf war in terms of illegal mining" or retaliation for a shooting at the bar a month ago. Illegal goldminers, known as zama zamas ("to take a chance" in Zulu), operate heavily in organized gangs.
Detectives in Western Cape are investigating the 1:46 a.m. Cape Town attack. Police stated that "five individuals died on the scene while five others succumbed to injuries sustained after being transported to medical facilities. Eleven others are receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained. Detectives are hard at work in search of the perpetrators of the shooting incident, with no arrests effected yet. The identities of the deceased persons will be released once their next of kin are informed."
An official noted that "business jealousy might have been the issue" due to outside alcohol consumption.
The violence coincides with anger over female bodies found near Johannesburg's airport and ongoing televised hearings into police corruption within South Africa's police force. UN data shows a 2024 murder rate of nearly 40 per 100,000, while official statistics confirm over 22,700 homicides in the year ending June 30, 2024, according to The Associated Press.
