The death toll from a mass shooting in a South African tavern has risen to 18, police confirmed on Monday, September 28, 2026. The shooting occurred on Saturday evening in the semi-rural township of Wedela, approximately 80 kilometers west of Johannesburg. Gunmen armed with assault rifles stormed the bar, killing 13 men and four women. One person died in hospital, bringing the total number of deceased to 18, while 18 others were wounded.
According to police, two of the deceased were Lesotho nationals, and only four of the victims have been identified so far. The motive for the attack is still unclear, but police suspect it may be linked to an incident in the same tavern in August, when one person was killed and another wounded. The tavern owner reported that the area is plagued by rivalry between gangs involved in illicit mining for gold.
The incident is part of a bloody weekend in South Africa, with another mass shooting occurring in Cape Town on Sunday, resulting in 10 deaths and 11 injuries. Mass killings in South Africa are often linked to organized crime, including illegal mining, gang violence, and extortion. The country has one of the world's highest murder rates, with approximately 60 people killed daily.
The area where the shooting occurred is known for its illicit mining activities, with thousands of unregistered miners operating in abandoned mining shafts. Many of these miners come from across southern Africa, including Lesotho, which is embedded within South Africa. The tavern owner expressed fear of continuing to operate due to the violence and gang rivalry in the area.
In a separate incident, 11 women were found dead in Johannesburg's Ekurhuleni area over the past 10 weeks, with most of the victims in their 20s and 30s. Some of the bodies showed signs of sexual assault. On Monday, a 23-year-old woman was shot and killed during an alleged robbery while on her way to work. Police stated that there is no established link between this incident and the recent cases of women found in Ekurhuleni.
President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed the army to violence hotspots around Johannesburg and Cape Town in March to combat organized crime, which he described as the "most immediate threat" to South Africa's democracy and economic development. According to Julian Rademeyer, an adviser for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, there have been at least 41 mass killings this year, resulting in 196 lives lost.
The weekend's bloodshed has further alarmed South Africans, and police have yet to make any arrests in either of the mass killings. The country has a high number of legal and illegal firearms, contributing to the frequency of shootings. The incidents have raised concerns about the effectiveness of current measures to address organized crime and violence in South Africa.
Key points
- The death toll from the South Africa bar shooting has risen to 18.
- The shooting is suspected to be linked to gang rivalry and possible retaliation.
- South Africa has experienced at least 41 mass killings this year, resulting in 196 lives lost.
