At least 27 killed in separate shootings in South Africa townships

At least 27 people were killed in two separate mass shootings in South Africa between Saturday night and early Sunday, according to the South African Police Service and media reports. The attacks took place in townships near Johannesburg and Cape Town. The first shooting occurred at a bar in Wedela, southwest of Johannesburg.

Police said eight unidentified people armed with AK-47 rifles entered the venue and opened fire on customers. Al Jazeera reported that 17 people died and 15 were injured. The victims in that attack included 13 men and four women, according to the report.

The suspects allegedly set two vehicles on fire before fleeing. Police have begun an investigation to identify and arrest those responsible. A separate shooting took place around midnight at a barbecue venue in a township near Cape Town.

Videos circulating on social media showed people drinking and dancing before gunfire interrupted the gathering. France24 reported that 10 people were killed, five at the scene and five in hospital, while 11 others were wounded. Police said they were searching for multiple suspects in the second attack.

The available information did not identify a motive, although some residents near Wedela associated the violence with competition among gangs for control of illicit gold mining. The attacks occurred amid persistently high levels of gun violence and homicide in South Africa. The report said about 5,427 homicides were recorded between April and June, an average of almost 60 a day.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said security forces had been instructed to reduce criminality and violence and warned that people could not simply use guns to shoot others at random.