At least nine people were killed and 10 others injured on Sunday after gunmen opened fire in a township near Johannesburg, South Africa, police have confirmed.
The attack occurred in Bekkersdal, an impoverished township located about 40 kilometres south-west of Johannesburg, marking the second mass shooting in the country this month.
Police said the assailants arrived in two vehicles and began shooting indiscriminately near an informal tavern, targeting patrons and passers-by before fleeing the scene.
“Some victims were randomly shot in the streets by unknown gunmen,” police said in a statement, adding that the attackers opened fire at people inside and around the tavern before escaping.
Authorities initially reported that 10 people had been killed but later revised the death toll to nine.
Provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana told SABC Television that one of the victims was a driver working for an online ride-hailing service who was outside the tavern at the time of the shooting.
The injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, while police launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Police said the motive for the attack remains unclear.
Bekkersdal lies close to several major goldmines and is plagued by poverty and high crime rates. South Africa continues to battle widespread violent crime, with shootings often linked to gang activity, turf wars and competition among informal businesses.
Earlier this month, on December 6, gunmen attacked a hostel in Saulsville township, west of Pretoria, killing 12 people, including a three-year-old child, and injuring at least 14 others. Police said that incident also occurred at a location where alcohol was being sold illegally.
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