27 dead in South Africa mass shootings

At least 27 people have been killed and more than 20 wounded in two mass shootings in South Africa.

The first incident reportedly occurred at about 9:30pm on Saturday in Extension 3, Wedela, in Gauteng province’s West Rand district, south-west of Johannesburg.

Police said eight gunmen, armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols, opened fire on people gathered outside a tavern before entering the premises and continuing the attack.

Seventeen people, comprising 13 men and four women, were killed, while 15 others were injured.

The suspects reportedly searched some customers and took their mobile phones before fleeing in two vehicles, while two other vehicles were set ablaze during the incident.

Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said detectives and specialist police units had been deployed in identifying and arresting the suspects.

Sibeko said the police opened 17 murder cases, 15 attempted murder cases and two cases relating to property damage.

In a separate incident in the early hours of Sunday, gunmen killed 10 people and injured 11 others outside an entertainment venue in Lwandle, a township near Cape Town.

Police said five victims died at the scene, while five others died in hospital. Multiple suspects were being sought, and no arrests had been announced in either incident as of Sunday morning.

The shootings occurred days after 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed when gunmen stormed a house in KwaMakhutha township near Durban.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with about 60 killings recorded daily in the country.

Illegal firearms and gang-related violence have remained persistent problems, with recent mass shootings often linked to turf wars involving gangs engaged in drug trafficking and illegal mining.

In February, President Cyril Ramaphosa described organised crime as “the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development”.

Earlier this year, the military was deployed alongside the police in areas with high murder rates as part of efforts to curb armed violence.