South African police were on Sunday, September 27, 2026, searching for the perpetrators of two separate shootings that resulted in 27 fatalities. The incidents occurred within hours of each other and have brought attention to the country's ongoing struggle with gun violence. The motives behind the shootings were unknown, but experts pointed to the prevalence of gang violence and organized crime in South Africa.
In Wedela township, approximately 80 km from Johannesburg, 17 people were killed and 15 injured at a tavern when suspects armed with AK-47 rifles opened fire at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 26. The area is known to be a hotspot for gun crime, with illegal miners, locally referred to as zama zamas, residing in the vicinity.
The tavern where the shooting occurred had a sign that read "No weapons allowed" below its trading hours. Soldiers from the national army and police pathologists arrived in the township, where two burnt vehicles were visible. Residents were reluctant to speak about the incident, but one individual mentioned the presence of zama zamas in the area.
In a separate incident in Lwandle, on the outskirts of Cape Town, gunmen opened fire in a venue selling grilled meat around 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, killing 10 people and injuring 11 more. Onlookers gathered behind police lines but were unwilling to speak to journalists, citing fear for their safety.
Crime expert Yusuf Abramjee stated that South Africa has a serious problem with illegal firearms, which are frequently used by organized criminal groups and in gang-related and other violent crimes. Abramjee emphasized that authorities need to examine the wider networks behind the violence, rather than just investigating the immediate perpetrators.
The issue of crime is expected to be a significant concern for voters in municipal elections in November, with the African National Congress facing potential erosion of voter support. President Cyril Ramaphosa previously stated that organized crime had become the biggest threat to South Africa's democracy and deployed the army to assist police in certain areas.
The recent shootings are part of a larger pattern of violence in South Africa, including a shooting at a house party near Durban that killed 11 people and a series of women's bodies found near Johannesburg since July, which has renewed fear and anger over high rates of femicide.
Key points
- South African police are investigating two separate shootings that killed 27 people near Johannesburg and Cape Town.
- The incidents have highlighted the country's ongoing struggle with gun violence and organized crime.
- Authorities are working to address the wider networks behind the violence, with crime expert Yusuf Abramjee emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive approach.
