Nine killed in mass shooting in South Africa

At least nine people have been killed and 10 injured in a shooting in the Bekkersdal township west of Johannesburg in South Africa.

Armed men in two vehicles opened fire at a tavern in the early hours of the morning and continued shooting as they fled the scene, authorities said.

Witnesses described at least nine suspects with pistols and one with an AK-47-style assault rifle, police said.

Police have launched a manhunt for some 12 suspects believed to have been involved in the attack.

Among those killed was a driver working for a ride-hailing service, police said.

Some victims were randomly shot in the street outside the KwaNoxolo Tavern, said police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe.

The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and authorities are still working to identify the victims.

Police cited reports that ‘about 12’ unknown suspects arrived in a white kombi [van] and a silver sedan and opened fire at patrons.

They “continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene”, they said.

The incident occurred “just before 1:00am local time” (11:00 pm GMT), in the Tambo municipality, authorities said.

Police are now collecting witness statements to help in their investigation.

“We are still busy obtaining statements. Our national crime and management team has arrived,” Fred Kekana, acting commissioner of the Gauteng province, where the crime occurred, said.

He said police had found a “challenging and unfortunate situation”.

“When people were running out of the tavern, they were shot,” he said.

“People were also shot on the streets. While the cars [of the assailants] were leaving, they shot another driver.”

At least 10 people were taken to hospital with injuries.

South Africa’s public broadcaster, SABC, initially reported that 10 people had been killed but later revised the death toll.

The Independent has reached out to the South African Police Service for comment.

On 6 December, gunmen killed 12 people, including a three-year-old, at a Pretoria hostel reportedly selling alcohol illegally.