Gunmen Kill Nine in South African Tavern Attack as Nationwide Manhunt Intensifies

A late‑night attack at a licensed tavern in the Bekkersdal township west of Johannesburg has left nine people dead and at least ten others wounded, prompting a large‑scale manhunt for a group of heavily armed suspects who remain at large, authorities confirmed on Sunday.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), approximately 12 unidentified gunmen arrived at the KwaNoxolo tavern just before 1 a.m. in two vehicles — a white minibus and a silver sedan — before opening fire on patrons inside the establishment and on people in the surrounding streets as they fled the scene. Police said the attackers used a combination of pistols and at least one rifle, believed to be an AK‑47, in what investigators described as an unprovoked and indiscriminate assault.

A Scene of Chaos and Casualties

Witnesses reported that the gunmen entered the tavern without warning and began shooting randomly, sending patrons scrambling for cover. Bodies were later found both inside the tavern and outside on nearby streets, where some victims were struck while attempting to escape the gunfire.

Among the dead was an e‑hailing driver who had just dropped off a passenger moments before the attack, police confirmed. Seven men and two women were killed, though authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims pending family notifications.

Emergency responders transported the wounded to nearby hospitals, where several remain in critical condition.

Police Launch Major Manhunt

Gauteng Acting Police Commissioner Fred Kekana said national and provincial crime units — including crime intelligence, serious and violent crime investigators, and forensic teams — were deployed to the scene within hours of the shooting.

“We are still busy obtaining statements. Our national crime management team has arrived,” Kekana told local media, adding that investigators are working through the night to gather evidence and interview witnesses.

Authorities have not yet established a motive for the attack. SAPS confirmed that the tavern was operating legally, countering early speculation that it may have been an unlicensed venue.

A Community Shaken Amid Rising Violence

Bekkersdal, a township historically shaped by mining and long plagued by poverty and high crime rates, has been the site of increasing violence in recent years. The region is also known for illegal mining operations and the proliferation of unlicensed firearms, factors that police say contribute to recurring outbreaks of deadly crime.

Sunday’s massacre marks the second mass shooting in South Africa in three weeks. Earlier this month, 12 people — including a three‑year‑old child — were killed in a shooting at an unlicensed bar near Pretoria. In 2022, another mass shooting in Soweto left 16 people dead, underscoring the country’s ongoing struggle with gun violence.

South Africa recorded nearly 26,000 homicides in 2024 — more than 70 per day — making it one of the most violent nations in the world. Firearms remain the leading cause of homicide deaths nationwide.

Families Await Answers

As forensic teams continued to process the crime scene, grieving families gathered outside the tavern, seeking information about loved ones. Police have urged the public to come forward with any information that could assist in identifying the suspects.

“This was a senseless act of violence,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili. “We are appealing to anyone who may have seen the vehicles or the suspects to contact authorities immediately.

The investigation remains ongoing, and SAPS has vowed to pursue all leads as the search for the gunmen intensifies.