At least nine people have been killed and ten others wounded after a late-night shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal, a township in a gold-mining region west of Johannesburg, South African police have confirmed. Security agencies have launched an intensive manhunt for the attackers, who remain unidentified.
According to police accounts, the violence unfolded shortly after 1:00 a.m. on Sunday when around a dozen armed men arrived at the licensed tavern in two vehicles. The assailants reportedly opened fire on patrons without warning and continued shooting as they fled the scene. Among those killed were seven men and two women, while several others sustained gunshot injuries. Authorities said two victims were shot while trying to escape, and another was a taxi driver who happened to be nearby.
Senior police officials described the attack as unprovoked and said the gunmen were armed with pistols and a high-powered rifle. Investigators are still trying to establish the motive, with no immediate link confirmed to robbery or gang rivalry. Forensic teams remain at the scene, collecting evidence as part of the ongoing investigation.
The attack has renewed concerns about South Africa’s persistent gun violence. The country records one of the highest murder rates globally, with police data showing dozens of killings daily. Local residents say frequent gunfire has become a grim reality in Bekkersdal, highlighting growing fears about illegal firearms and community safety as authorities work to bring those responsible to justice.
