Gunmen Kill Nine in South African Tavern, Highlighting National Crisis

A police manhunt is underway in South Africa after a mass shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal, near Johannesburg, left nine people dead and another ten injured. Police said about 12 unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire on patrons, once again casting a harsh light on the country's endemic gun violence.

The attack occurred around 1:00 AM local time on Sunday. According to authorities, the perpetrators, armed with pistols and at least one AK-47, “continued to shoot randomly as [people] fled the scene.” Maj-Gen Fred Kekana, the deputy provincial police commissioner, told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the attack was “unprovoked.” He added, “The poor patrons were just enjoying themselves when people came and shot.” Two of the victims were shot outside as they tried to escape, and a third was a taxi driver who had just dropped off a passenger nearby.

The motive for the shooting remains unclear.

Residents described a scene of chaos and terror. Nokuthula Bhukwana, who went to the tavern after hearing the shots, told Reuters, “When we arrived at the scene, we opened the doors and indeed scores of people were lying on the floor.” She said some of the injured had to be taken to a clinic in wheelbarrows.

The incident is not an isolated one in a country battling one of the world's highest murder rates. According to police figures, an average of 63 people were killed every day between April and September this year. While there are about three million legally held firearms in South Africa, experts estimate at least as many unlicensed weapons are in circulation.

Local officials expressed frustration over a lack of resources. The deputy mayor for the local municipality, Nontombi Molatlhegi, said residents were afraid to identify those responsible for fear of reprisal. She called for the national government to deploy the military, stating that the police were too under-resourced and thinly spread to protect the community.

Claire Taylor, a researcher at the campaign group Gun Free South Africa, told the BBC there has been a significant increase in mass shootings since 2020. The ongoing violence underscores the profound public safety challenges facing the nation as authorities continue their search for the suspects.