In a chilling act of violence that underscores South Africa’s ongoing struggle with gun crime, at least nine people were killed and ten others wounded in a brazen attack on a tavern in Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, early Sunday morning.
The incident unfolded just before 1 a.m. local time at the KwaNoxolo tavern, a licensed establishment popular in the community, when approximately a dozen unidentified assailants arrived in a white minibus or van and a silver sedan.
According to police reports, the gunmen—armed with at least nine pistols and an AK-47-style assault rifle—stormed the bar and opened fire indiscriminately on patrons inside, killing three people on the spot. As chaos erupted, the attackers continued their rampage outside, fatally shooting six more individuals, including a passing driver for an online ride-hailing service. Witnesses described a harrowing scene where the perpetrators not only fired randomly but also robbed the fallen victims, searching bodies for valuables like cellphones before fleeing.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Fred Kekana detailed the brutality in a press briefing: “The attackers searched people after shooting them, taking their valuables, including phones.” Spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili added, “A group of as many as a dozen assailants arrived… then stormed into the bar and opened fire on patrons inside.” The injured were rushed to nearby medical facilities, while forensic teams scoured the site for evidence.
Authorities have launched an intensive manhunt, deploying national and provincial crime scene management teams, serious crime investigators, crime intelligence officers, detectives, and the violent crimes unit. No suspects have been identified, and the motive remains unclear, though police are gathering witness statements and appealing for public assistance. Kekana emphasized the multi-agency response: “Our national crime and management team has arrived… so is our serious crime investigating team.”
This tragedy is the latest in a spate of mass shootings plaguing South Africa, which boasts one of the world’s highest murder rates—averaging about 60 homicides daily.
Just weeks earlier, 12 people, including a three-year-old, were killed in a similar attack at an unlicensed tavern near Pretoria. Other recent incidents include the daylight assassination of former radio presenter DJ Warras in Johannesburg and a witness in a corruption inquiry gunned down earlier this month. These events highlight the pervasive gun violence in townships, often linked to informal bars known as shebeens, amid economic disparities and lax firearm controls.