Two South African shootings kill at least 27 as police investigate motives
Police report no arrests after attacks at a bar near Johannesburg and a barbecue venue outside Cape Town left 26 people wounded as well as at least 27 dead.
Two mass shootings in South Africa have killed at least 27 people and wounded 26, police said on Sunday. No suspects had been arrested, and the motives remain under investigation.
Eight gunmen armed with assault rifles and pistols attacked a bar in Wedela, southwest of Johannesburg, on Saturday evening, killing 17 people and wounding 15, police said. The suspects reportedly fired on customers outside before entering the bar, then set two vehicles alight as they fled.
Police are examining whether the Wedela attack was linked to illegal mining or a previous shooting at the same tavern. Neither possibility has been established as a motive.
A separate attack at a barbecue venue in a township outside Cape Town early on Sunday killed 10 people and wounded 11. A police officer cited business jealousy as a possible factor, amid reports that some customers bought alcohol elsewhere before drinking at the venue. Police had made no arrests in that case either.
The attacks came a week after 11 people were killed at a house party in Durban. South Africa continues to face high levels of gun violence, which is often linked to gangs, organised crime and local business rivalries, according to France 24’s report. The government has deployed soldiers to support police efforts against violent crime.
