Separate mass shootings in South Africa townships leave at least 27 people dead

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Two separate mass shootings near the country's two largest cities claimed at least 27 lives on Sunday, according to police reports. In Wedela township, southwest of Johannesburg, 17 individuals were killed when eight armed suspects, wielding AK-47 rifles and pistols, opened fire at a bar on Saturday night.

An additional 15 victims suffered gunshot wounds in that attack. Police also reported a separate incident in Lwandle, near Cape Town, where 10 people were killed and 11 were injured in a mass shooting that occurred around 1 a.m. Sunday. Authorities in both cases are actively seeking multiple suspects, though the exact number remains undisclosed.

The string of shootings follows a similar incident in Durban, where three gunmen opened fire at a house party near the east coast city, killing 11 people, including a pregnant woman, just days ago. As of now, no arrests have been made in either of the two latest mass shootings. South Africa has long grappled with high rates of violent crime, but the recent series of shootings have left even the country unaccustomed to such brutality shocked and appalled.