27 Killed In Mass Shootings of South Africa

Gunmen killed at least 27 people in two separate mass shootings in South Africa’s two main cities, police said on Sunday.

Eight gunmen armed with assault rifles stormed a bar in Wedela, west of Johannesburg, at around 19:30 GMT on Saturday, killing 17 people and wounding 15 others.

The victims included 13 men and four women. Police said the suspects opened fire on customers drinking outside before moving inside and continuing the attack.

Wedela is a semi-rural township of brick houses and small businesses surrounded by land affected by mining. The area has also been the focus of a government crackdown on illegal mining, with soldiers deployed alongside police against criminal networks operating around abandoned mine shafts.

Deputy provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana said the attack appeared to have been retaliation for an incident at the same tavern last month, in which one person was killed and another wounded. One of the victims in Saturday’s shooting was also being sought by police in connection with that incident.

Kekana said police had obtained clear images of the suspects and would pursue them. The motive had not been established, while the attackers torched two vehicles before fleeing.

In a separate shooting at an entertainment venue in a township outside Cape Town early on Sunday, gunmen killed 10 people and wounded 11 others, police said.

Five victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while the others died from their injuries while being taken to hospital. Video clips shared on social media showed people dancing and drinking before gunfire sent revellers fleeing for cover.

No suspects had been arrested in either shooting, police said.

The attacks came a week after gunmen stormed a house party in a township in South Africa’s eastern port city of Durban and killed 11 people.

South Africa has also been investigating the killings of women in Johannesburg, where 10 women have been killed in a single municipality over two months. The latest victim was found on Saturday, and police said a suspect had been taken into custody.

The nine other victims were mostly in their 20s and 30s, with some showing signs of sexual assault. Police have offered a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible, while the Democratic Alliance has offered an additional $31,000.

SOURCE: AFP