A shooting incident at a pub in South Africa has left nine people dead and at least 10 others wounded. The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday in the township of Bekkersdal, approximately 46 kilometers west of Johannesburg. According to authorities, a group of unknown gunmen in a white mini-bus and a silver sedan opened fire on patrons at the KwaNoxolo tavern, continuing to shoot randomly as they fled the scene.

The incident, which happened just before 1 a.m., is the second mass shooting to occur in South Africa within a three-week period. Police have confirmed that an e-hailing driver, who had just dropped off a client, was among those caught in the crossfire and killed. The victims’ identities have not been released by the police.

A manhunt for the suspects has been initiated by the Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations unit, in collaboration with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit. The police are working to apprehend the approximately 12 unknown suspects involved in the shooting.

This incident is the latest in a series of mass shootings at bars and taverns in South Africa. Earlier this month, a mass shooting at an unlicensed bar near the South African capital resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people and injured 13 others. In 2022, a shooting in the Johannesburg township of Soweto killed 16 people, while four people were killed in a mass shooting at a bar in another province on the same day.

South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, with almost 26,000 homicides reported in 2024, averaging over 70 per day. Firearms are the leading cause of death in these homicides, with many murders carried out using illegal firearms. Despite stringent gun control laws, officials struggle to curb the use of illicit firearms.

The recent surge in mass shootings has raised concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of current measures to address gun violence. As the investigation into the latest incident continues, authorities are working to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for continued efforts to address the root causes of violence and to implement effective strategies to reduce the proliferation of illegal firearms in South Africa.