South Africa Rocked by 3 Mass Shootings: What to Know
The shootings killed more than 30 people over the weekend amid a recent spate of violence.
South Africa experienced three mass shootings over the weekend, resulting in at least 32 deaths. The attacks occurred in impoverished townships of Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Khayelitsha. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared violence and criminality a spreading issue in the country and pledged stronger actions by security forces to curb violent crime.
The shootings are believed to be linked to criminal gangs fighting over territory or illicit businesses such as illegal mining, drug trafficking, and extortion. In March, President Ramaphosa deployed soldiers to assist police in a yearlong operation targeting gang violence and illegal mining.
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