At least 27 killed in separate shootings in Johannesburg and Cape Town
Police in South Africa say at least 27 people were killed and 26 wounded in two separate shootings at entertainment venues in Johannesburg and Cape Town. No suspects had been arrested, while investigators were still working to establish the motives behind the attacks and trace those responsible.
At least 27 people were killed and 26 wounded in two separate shootings in South Africa, police said on Sunday, as gun violence again struck the country’s two main cities. The first attack took place at about 7.30pm GMT on Saturday at a bar west of Johannesburg. Police said eight gunmen carrying assault rifles opened fire on customers drinking outside before entering the premises and continuing the attack.
Seventeen people died in the Johannesburg shooting, including 13 men and four women. Fifteen others were wounded. Police said the attackers also set two vehicles alight before fleeing.
The motive remained unknown. A separate shooting occurred early on Sunday at an entertainment venue in a township outside Cape Town. Ten people were killed and 11 wounded.
Police said five victims were declared dead at the scene, while the others died as they were being taken to hospital. No suspect had been arrested in either case, according to police. The attacks leave authorities investigating two mass-casualty incidents in different metropolitan areas within a short period.
South Africa has persistent gun violence, which is often linked to gang rivalries and competition among informal businesses, according to the source material. The country has both legal and illegal firearms and records roughly 60 murders a day, it said. The latest shootings come after repeated deployments of the army to support police in areas affected by serious violence.
Soldiers were sent into Johannesburg hotspots in March, while troops have also been used during earlier crises, including the 2021 riots and violence involving trucks in 2023. The source also reported that 10 women had been killed in one Johannesburg municipality over two months. A suspect was in custody in that investigation, and police had offered a 400,000-rand reward for information leading to an arrest.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.