Eleven individuals have been arrested in connection with a mass shooting that resulted in nine fatalities at a tavern in South Africa. The incident occurred on Sunday in the Bekkersdal establishment, near Johannesburg.
Incident Details
Police had initiated a search for 12 unidentified gunmen who commenced firing at patrons around 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT Saturday). During the attack, two individuals were killed as they attempted to flee the tavern, along with a taxi driver who had dropped off a passenger nearby. The total number of fatalities from the tavern shooting stands at nine.
Arrests and Investigation
Provincial Deputy Commissioner of Police, Major General Fred Kekana, stated that nine of the arrested suspects are Lesotho nationals, and one is from Mozambique. Another suspect, identified as a South African mineworker, was also detained. Law enforcement officials recovered several unlicensed firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, during the arrests. Preliminary investigations suggest a motive linked to illegal mining turf disputes.
Context of Violence in South Africa
South Africa experiences high murder rates, frequently attributed to arguments, robberies, and gang violence. Data from Gideon Joubert of the South African Gunowners' Association indicates approximately 3 million legally held firearms in the country, with an estimated equal number of unlicensed weapons.
Claire Taylor, a researcher at Gun Free South Africa, noted an increase in incidents where four or more individuals are killed or injured since 2020, despite a reported decline in mass shootings in 2025. Licensed taverns and illegal drinking spots, known as shebeens, are among the common sites for these attacks.
Recent Related Incidents
This shooting follows another attack two weeks prior at the Saulsville Hostel in Pretoria, the capital, which resulted in the deaths of eleven people, including a three-year-old child.