A manhunt is underway after a shooting at a tavern in South Africa left nine people dead and another ten injured.
Police stated that seven men and two women were killed in Bekkersdal, near Johannesburg, when approximately 12 unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire on patrons.
The incident occurred around 01:00 local time on Sunday (23:00 GMT Saturday), and witnesses reported that the perpetrators continued to shoot randomly as people fled the scene.
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, averaging 63 deaths per day from April to September this year, according to police data.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear as authorities investigate the incident. Major-General Fred Kekana, deputy provincial police commissioner, described the attack as unprovoked and noted that the attackers were armed with pistols and an AK-47.
Among the victims, two were shot outside the tavern while trying to escape, and a third was a taxi driver who had just dropped off a passenger nearby.
Residents in the area reported that gun violence has become a regular occurrence, leading to a climate of fear amongst the community. Local political leaders have called for military intervention, citing a lack of resources for the police to effectively manage the escalating gun violence.
There are an estimated three million legally owned firearms in South Africa, alongside at least the same number of unlicensed weapons, raising significant concerns about public safety in the nation with a population of 63 million.
The attack on the tavern follows a troubling trend of mass shootings in South Africa, with licensed venues increasingly becoming targets for violence.
