South African law enforcement authorities have taken eleven individuals into custody in connection with a violent mass shooting that claimed nine lives at a tavern near Johannesburg.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday in Bekkersdal, sparked a massive manhunt for a group of twelve armed men who opened fire on patrons without warning.
Major General Fred Kekana, the provincial deputy commissioner of police, confirmed on Wednesday that the majority of those arrested are foreign nationals, including nine from Lesotho and one from Mozambique. A South African mineworker was also detained as part of the operation. During the arrests, police recovered several illegal weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, which are currently being processed for forensic evidence.
While initial reports suggested the attack was unprovoked, preliminary investigations now indicate that the violence may be linked to ongoing conflicts over illegal mining territories. Witnesses described a chaotic scene where gunmen targeted individuals both inside the establishment and those attempting to flee, including a bystander taxi driver. This tragedy follows a similar mass shooting just two weeks prior at the Saulsville Hostel in Pretoria, highlighting a worrying trend of multi-victim violence in the country.
Despite a slight decrease in the overall number of mass shootings reported in 2025, researchers note a sharp rise in incidents involving four or more casualties over the last five years. Taverns and local drinking spots remain high-risk locations for such attacks.
The South African government continues to face pressure to address the proliferation of both legal and unlicensed firearms to curb the high rate of violent crime affecting communities across the nation.
