South Africa Shooting: Unidentified gunmen opened indiscriminate fire at a bar (tavern) on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa, in the early hours of Sunday. 9 people died in this attack, while 10 others were injured. Police said that this is the second such major shooting incident in the country this month.

The incident took place in the Bakersdal area, about 40 kilometers south-west of Johannesburg, which is a gold mining area. The attack took place around 1 am (2300 GMT). Police initially put the death toll at 10, but later revised it to 9.

Police issued statement

According to the police statement, about a dozen attackers traveling in two vehicles opened fire on the people present in the tavern and continued firing randomly while fleeing the scene of the incident. The dead also included a driver of an online car-hailing service, who was present outside the bar. Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana gave this information to SABC TV. Police said that they have started searching for the attackers.

A similar attack had happened earlier also

Earlier on December 6, gunmen attacked a hostel in Saulsville township near the capital Pretoria, killing 12 people, including a three-year-old child. According to the police, that place was a den for selling liquor illegally. Many people in South Africa keep licensed weapons for personal protection, but despite strict laws, the number of illegal weapons in the country is much higher.

Cases of violence are continuously increasing

Many people in South Africa keep licensed weapons for personal protection, but despite strict laws, the number of illegal weapons in the country is much higher. According to police data, an average of 63 people were murdered every day between April and September. Most of these deaths occurred due to mutual disputes, while looting and gang violence were also major reasons. In one of the most horrific incidents in recent years, 18 relatives were shot dead in a rural home in the country’s Eastern Cape province in September 2024.