Nine people dead after South Africa tavern attack

Nine people have died and at least 10 others are wounded after a shooting at a South African pub.

Authorities said around 12 suspects in a white mini-bus and a silver sedan opened fire at KwaNoxolo tavern in Bekkersdal, 28 miles (45km) west of Johannesburg just before 1am on Sunday.

"Some victims were randomly shot in the streets by unknown gunmen," police said.

According to authorities, they continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene.

Provincial police commissioner Fred Kekana said one of the deceased was a driver from an online car-hailing service who had been outside the pub.

A manhunt for the suspects is now underway.

There have been several mass shootings at bars - sometimes called shebeens or taverns in South Africa - in recent years.

The attack is the second mass shooting to happen in South Africa in three weeks.

On 6 December, multiple suspects took part in a mass shooting in an unlicensed bar that left at least 12 dead and 13 injured.

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With almost 26,000 homicides in 2024, more than 70 per day on average, South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world.

Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.