The latest death occurred following the attack at a tavern in Wedela township, near Carletonville, about 80 kilometres west of Johannesburg, where armed gunmen opened fire on patrons late Saturday night. Police said 17 people were initially killed at the scene before another victim succumbed to injuries while receiving medical treatment. The attack has triggered a major police operation in the area, with investigators searching for the suspects and working to establish the circumstances and motive behind the shooting.
According to South African police, the incident occurred at about 9:30pm on Saturday when armed men arrived at the tavern and opened fire on people seated outside. The attackers subsequently entered the premises and continued shooting at patrons inside the establishment. Police said the suspects were armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols. After the attack, they allegedly searched some of the victims and took mobile phones before fleeing the area in two unidentified vehicles.
Two vehicles were also set alight during the incident. The initial victims comprised 13 men and four women, while 15 others were injured and taken to medical facilities. With the latest death, authorities are now investigating 18 counts of murder and 18 counts of attempted murder, alongside two counts of malicious damage to property and armed robbery. The police have also deployed Operation Prosper to intensify security operations in Wedela and surrounding communities.
Four victims have been formally identified, including two South African nationals and two nationals of neighbouring Lesotho. Authorities said all the injured victims receiving treatment in hospitals have been identified. Five of those injured suffered gunshot wounds to the upper body and were in critical condition, while the remaining injured victims were described as stable. The identification process is continuing as authorities work with families and relevant agencies to establish the identities of the remaining victims.
Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni has established a dedicated multidisciplinary team to investigate the attack. The team includes experienced murder and robbery detectives, crime intelligence personnel and crime-scene investigation officers. A senior brigadier responsible for crime investigation services in the province is leading the operation. No arrests had been made as of Monday, although police said investigators had obtained clear images of some of the suspected attackers.
The motive for the shooting has not been established. Police are examining several possible lines of inquiry, including robbery, retaliation and potential links to illegal mining activities in the region. The West Rand, where the shooting occurred, has experienced organised criminal activity associated with illegal gold mining. Rival groups operating around abandoned mine shafts have previously been linked by authorities and investigators to violent crime.
The Wedela attack was one of two major mass shootings reported in South Africa over the weekend. In a separate incident early Sunday morning, gunmen opened fire at an entertainment venue in Lwandle township, outside Cape Town, killing 10 people and injuring 11 others. The incidents have once again drawn attention to the persistent problem of gun violence and organised crime in South Africa, which has one of the world’s highest homicide rates.
Key points
- The death toll from the mass shooting has risen to 18.
- The police have launched a multidisciplinary investigation into the attack.
- The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
