At least ten people were killed and ten others injured after unidentified gunmen opened fire at a tavern near Johannesburg in the early hours of Sunday, marking the second mass shooting in South Africa this month.
The incident occurred in Bekkersdal, a gold-mining area located around 40 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg, shortly before 1 am local time. According to police, a group of around a dozen attackers arrived in two vehicles and began firing at people gathered at the tavern before continuing to shoot randomly while fleeing the scene.
Authorities initially reported ten deaths, but later revised the death toll to nine. Among those killed was a driver working for an online cab-hailing service who was outside the tavern at the time of the attack.
Police have launched a manhunt to trace the assailants. The tavern was reportedly operating illegally, selling alcohol without authorisation.
South Africa continues to struggle with high levels of violent crime, often linked to organised criminal networks, gang rivalries and competition among informal businesses. Gun violence remains a persistent problem despite strict firearm ownership laws, with a large number of illegal weapons believed to be in circulation.
Earlier this month, another deadly shooting took place at a hostel in Saulsville township near Pretoria, where twelve people, including a three-year-old child, were killed. That attack also occurred at a location involved in illegal alcohol sales.
Police data shows that between April and September, an average of 63 people were killed every day across the country. Most of these deaths were linked to personal disputes, robberies and gang-related violence.
In one of the deadliest recent incidents, eighteen members of a single family were shot dead at a rural home in Eastern Cape province in September 2024. Investigations into the latest shooting are ongoing.

Gunmen open fire at illegal tavern near Johannesburg, several injured

Ten Killed in Random Shooting in South Africa

Gunmen open fire at illegal tavern near Johannesburg, several injured

December 21, 2025 | 12:07 IST