A shooting incident at a licensed tavern in Bekkersdal, a township located near Johannesburg, South Africa, resulted in nine fatalities and ten injuries. The event occurred at approximately 01:00 local time on Sunday, which corresponds to 23:00 GMT on Saturday.
Incident Details
Law enforcement officials reported that an estimated 12 unidentified individuals, arriving in two vehicles, opened fire on patrons inside the establishment. The assailants continued to discharge firearms indiscriminately as they fled the scene.
Police Response
South African police have commenced an investigation and launched a search for the individuals responsible for the attack.
National Context
According to figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for 2023-24, South Africa records a murder rate of 45 people per 100,000, placing it among countries with high murder rates globally.