9 dead, 10 injured in mass shooting near Johannesburg Tavern in South Africa

At least nine people were killed and 10 others injured in a mass shooting at a township outside Johannesburg, police said on Sunday, marking the second such deadly attack in South Africa this month.

The incident occurred in Bekkersdal, around 25 miles southwest of Johannesburg, where unidentified gunmen opened fire near a tavern or informal bar. Police said the motive behind the attack remains unclear. According to an official police statement, some of the victims were randomly shot in the streets.

“Nine people are dead. We don’t yet have a breakdown of who they are,” said Brigadier Brenda Muridili, spokesperson for Gauteng province police. Authorities initially reported 10 deaths but later revised the toll to nine.

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Police confirmed that the shooting took place at a site that was allegedly selling alcohol illegally. Bekkersdal is a densely populated and impoverished area located close to some of South Africa’s major gold mines.

The attack comes less than a month after another mass shooting shocked the country. On December 6, gunmen stormed a hostel near Pretoria, killing at least 12 people, including a three-year-old child.

South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of violent crime, with mass shootings raising fresh concerns over public safety and gun control. Investigations into the Bekkersdal attack are ongoing, police said.