South African authorities are searching for multiple gunmen after two mass shootings over the weekend left 28 people dead and at least 26 others injured in separate attacks near Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The first attack happened late Saturday at a tavern in Wedela township, southwest of Johannesburg. Police said eight gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols opened fire on patrons outside the venue before entering and continuing the shooting. The attack initially left 17 people dead, but the death toll later rose to 18 after another victim died in hospital.
The attackers allegedly searched some patrons and took their mobile phones before escaping in two vehicles. Two vehicles were also set on fire during the attack. Police have opened murder and attempted-murder investigations, while detectives and members of the South African Defence Force have been deployed to the area.
About four hours later, another shooting took place in Lwandle township near Cape Town. Ten people were killed and 11 others were wounded when gunmen opened fire at an entertainment venue that also sold grilled meat. Five victims died at the scene, while five others later died after being taken to medical facilities.
No arrests had been reported in either attack as authorities continued searching for the suspects. Investigators have not established a definitive motive for the shootings. Possible links to organised crime, illegal mining disputes and business rivalry are being examined in separate investigations, but those explanations remain under investigation.
The attacks came only days after another mass shooting near Durban in KwaMakhutha, where 11 people were killed at a house party. The three incidents have contributed to a wider wave of deadly shootings across several South African provinces within a matter of days.
The violence is occurring against the backdrop of South Africa’s longstanding struggle with gun crime. Police recorded 5,427 homicides in the three months ending June 30, an average of nearly 60 killings a day, with firearms accounting for a significant share of homicides.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has previously deployed soldiers to assist police in high-crime areas, including parts of Johannesburg and Cape Town, as the government seeks to combat organised criminal activity. The latest shootings are likely to intensify scrutiny of policing, illegal firearms and the networks behind heavily armed criminal groups.
For communities in Wedela and Lwandle, however, the immediate priority remains finding those responsible and supporting the victims and their families. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence, identify suspects and determine whether the separate attacks have any connection.
The death toll has already risen from the initial 27 reported on Sunday to 28, showing how quickly the situation has developed. With suspects still at large, authorities now face the task of establishing the motives behind the shootings while preventing further violence in communities already dealing with persistent gun crime.
