Nine people were killed and ten others wounded when gunmen opened fire on patrons at a bar near Johannesburg, South Africa, early on Sunday, December 21st.
The attack took place shortly before 1 a.m. in the town of Bekkersdal, southwest of Johannesburg, in a poor neighbourhood within a gold-mining area. It was the second deadly bar shooting in South Africa this month.
Police said around 12 suspects were involved, most armed with handguns, while one attacker used an AK-47 rifle. The gunmen fired indiscriminately at patrons and continued shooting as they fled, stealing valuables including mobile phones. A manhunt has been launched and authorities have appealed to the public for information.
The shooting has once again highlighted South Africa’s serious public safety challenges. The country suffers from a high level of gun crime, fuelled by gang violence, organised criminal networks, and the widespread availability of illegal firearms. South African police forces’ data reveals that more than 60 people are murdered each day on their watch.
