Nine Killed in Tavern Shooting Near Johannesburg, Latest in Wave of Violent Attacks in South Africa

Gunmen stormed a tavern in Bekkersdal township, about 40 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg, early Sunday morning, killing nine people and injuring ten others in a brazen attack that highlights the country's ongoing struggle with violent crime.

The assault occurred just before 1:00 am local time, when several armed assailants entered the bar in the impoverished gold-mining area and opened fire indiscriminately on patrons without provocation. Most attackers used pistols, while one wielded an AK-47 rifle, according to deputy provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana.

Three victims were fatally shot inside the premises, while others were gunned down as they attempted to escape. The perpetrators continued firing even as they fled and reportedly robbed the victims of valuables, including mobile phones. Among the deceased was an online ride-hailing driver who happened to be passing by.

Authorities initially reported ten fatalities but later revised the death toll to nine. Police have launched a massive manhunt for the suspects and urged the public to come forward with any information.

This incident marks the second deadly tavern shooting in South Africa this month. On December 6, gunmen killed 12 people, including children aged three, 12, and 16, at an unlicensed bar in Saulsville township near Pretoria.

The country has been reeling from a series of high-profile violent incidents. Last week, popular former radio DJ Warras (real name Warris Stock), 40, was assassinated in broad daylight in central Johannesburg on December 16 while on duty with a private security firm. Earlier, on December 5, corruption inquiry witness Marius Van der Merwe, 41, was shot dead in front of his family, sparking renewed concerns over the safety of whistleblowers exposing crime and graft, including cases involving public officials.

South Africa continues to battle one of the world's highest murder rates, with police recording an average of 63 homicides per day from April to September. Firearms proliferate, both legally and illegally, fueling gang violence, business rivalries, and organised crime.

In one of the deadliest recent massacres, 18 family members—mostly women, aged 14 to 64—were killed in a rural Eastern Cape homestead in September 2024 during a traditional ceremony. Several suspects have been arrested in that case.

Officials described the Bekkersdal attack as "pure criminality."

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