South Africa shootings leave 27 dead in Johannesburg and Cape Town
Police say eight gunmen killed 27 people in separate attacks at a bar near Johannesburg and a barbecue venue outside Cape Town. Twenty-six others were wounded, and no arrests had been made in either shooting. The incidents came as authorities faced continuing concern over gun violence and a separate series of killings of women.
At least 27 people have been killed in two mass shootings in South Africa, police said on Sunday. The attacks occurred near Johannesburg and Cape Town, and 26 people were wounded. The first shooting took place at about 7.30pm on Saturday at a bar in Wedela, southwest of Johannesburg.
Police said gunmen carrying assault rifles and pistols opened fire on customers drinking outside before entering the premises and continuing the attack. Seventeen people were killed, including 13 males and four females, while 15 others were wounded. The suspects set two vehicles on fire before fleeing.
Police said the motive was not known, although the attack appeared to be connected to retaliation for an incident at the same tavern the previous month. Deputy provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana said one of the victims had been sought by police in connection with that earlier incident, in which one person was killed and another wounded. He said investigators had obtained clear images of the suspects and would pursue them.
In a separate attack early on Sunday, gunmen opened fire at a barbecue venue in a township outside Cape Town. Ten people were killed and 11 wounded. Police said five victims died at the scene and the others while being taken to hospital.
Two of those killed were women. No suspect had been arrested in either shooting. The attacks occurred amid continuing concern over gun violence linked to gangs, organised crime and local business disputes.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said security forces had been instructed to reduce criminality and violence. The shootings also followed another attack in Durban, where 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed at a house party. Separately, police said 11 women had been found dead in one municipality east of Johannesburg over 10 weeks.
Four people had been arrested in connection with that series, though police had not linked the cases.
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