Gunmen killed at least 27 people in two mass shootings in South Africa's two main cities, police reported on Sunday. The first incident occurred on Saturday at around 1930 GMT when eight gunmen armed with assault rifles stormed a bar west of Johannesburg. They shot 17 people and wounded 15 others, police said. The victims included 13 males and four females. The suspects torched two vehicles before fleeing, and the motive for the shooting remains unknown.
In the second incident, gunmen killed 10 people and wounded 11 more at an entertainment venue in a township outside Cape Town early on Sunday. Five of the victims were declared dead at the scene, while the others succumbed to their injuries while being taken to hospital. No suspect has been arrested in either case, police said. The attacks come as South Africa grapples with persistent gun violence often linked to gang rivalries and competition among informal businesses.
South Africa, with a population of about 62 million people, records roughly 60 murders a day, among the highest rates globally. The country has repeatedly turned to the army in times of crisis, including enforcing strict Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and deploying troops during the deadly riots sparked by the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma in 2021. Soldiers were also sent into the streets in 2023 after a wave of truck burnings raised fears of wider unrest.
In March, soldiers moved into violence hotspots in Johannesburg to support police efforts to tackle rampant crime, described by President Cyril Ramaphosa as one of the biggest threats facing the country. In 2019, around 1,300 soldiers were deployed to back up police in the gang-afflicted Cape Flats areas surrounding Cape Town. Yet shootings and other violent crime remain a persistent threat in the country.
The latest violence comes amid concerns about the proliferation of firearms in South Africa. The country has a high rate of gun ownership, with both legal and illegal firearms contributing to the problem. Police have offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of the killers, highlighting the need for community cooperation to tackle the issue.
In a separate case, 10 women have been killed in a single municipality in Johannesburg in two months, with the latest victim found semi-naked and stoned to death on Saturday. A suspect has been taken into custody, police said. The nine other victims were mostly in their 20s and 30s, with some found stripped of their clothes and showing signs of sexual assault.
The Democratic Alliance, South Africa's second-largest political party, has offered a further $31,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers, in addition to the 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward offered by police. The authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to help bring the perpetrators to justice.
Key points
- At least 27 people killed in two mass shootings in South Africa's main cities
- South Africa records roughly 60 murders a day, among the highest rates globally
- The country has repeatedly turned to the army to support police efforts to tackle rampant crime
