Death toll in South Africa bar shooting rises to 18, police say

The death toll from a mass shooting at a South African bar has increased to 18, police announced on Monday. One victim succumbed to injuries in a hospital, raising the total number of fatalities. At least two of the deceased were identified as citizens from Lesotho, a neighboring country within South Africa.

The attack took place on Saturday, west of Johannesburg, in a semi-rural township called Wedela. Eight gunmen, armed with assault rifles, stormed the bar, killing 13 men and four women. As of now, only four of the deceased have been identified, with two victims each from South Africa and Lesotho. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but the area is reportedly fraught with gang rivalry, particularly concerning illicit mining for gold.

South Africa is plagued by a high crime rate, with thousands of unregistered miners operating in abandoned mining shafts, many of whom are from Lesotho and other southern African nations. This sector has been linked to organized crime, assassinations, and other illegal activities. Similarly, a separate shooting occurred at an entertainment venue in a township outside Cape Town on Sunday, where ten people were killed and eleven wounded.

Gun ownership is widespread in South Africa, both legally and illegally, leading to frequent shootings often fueled by gang rivalry, extortion, and competition between informal businesses. The country, home to approximately 62 million people, has one of the world's highest murder rates, with about 60 people killed daily.