At least 27 people have been killed and 26 others injured in two mass shootings in South Africa, with police pursuing a number of suspects and investigating the background to the attacks. The shootings took place within hours of each other at entertainment venues near Johannesburg and Cape Town, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS). No arrests have been reported in either case.
The first attack took place at around 9:30pm on Saturday at a tavern in Wedela township, about 80 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg. Police said eight gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols opened fire on people who had gathered inside and outside the tavern. Seventeen people were killed, including 13 men and four women, with a further 15 people shot and injured.
“The criminals think it’s a fashion. They want to make it something which we need to get used to, but that cannot be allowed and tolerated,” deputy provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana said at the scene.
“We managed to get clear pictures of the suspects and we will get them,” he said, adding that the attack appeared to be a revenge for an incident last month. “One of the victims was being sought by police in connection with an incident at the same tavern last month in which one person was killed and another wounded.”
According to police, the attackers initially opened fire on people standing outside the tavern before entering and continuing to shoot. The suspects allegedly searched some patrons and took their mobile phones before fleeing in two unmarked vehicles. Two vehicles were also set alight during the attack, police said. Investigators have opened 17 murder cases and 15 attempted murder cases, as well as cases relating to property damage. Specialists have been deployed to try to track down the shooters.
A second shooting took place at about 1:46am on Sunday in Lwandle, on the outskirts of Cape Town. Police said gunmen opened fire at an entertainment venue that also serves grilled meat, commonly know as a shisanyama. Ten people were killed and 11 others injured. Five of the victims died at the scene, with another five people later succumbing to their injuries after being admitted to medical facilities. The remaining 11 injured victims were being treated, according to police.
Police have yet to officially establish a motive for either shooting.
In the case of the attack near Johannesburg, Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni said investigators were looking into whether the shooting was related to illegal mining activities in the area. He added that police were also considering the possibility that the attack was a revenge for an earlier incident at the same tavern. Those possibilities are currently being investigated and have not been established as the motive. The two shootings took place only days after another attack near Durban left 11 people dead at a house party, including a pregnant woman.
“This cannot go on like this,” South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, told local TV news channels. “This is the level of criminality that we must bring down, and our security forces are now going to continue pulling out all stops.”
Police investigations into the two latest shootings are continuing as authorities attempt to identify and apprehend those responsible.