Two mass shootings in South Africa leave 28 dead
Twenty-eight people have been killed in two mass shootings hours apart in South Africa, the latest gun violence to hit the country. Eighteen people were killed when eight gunmen stormed a bar close to Johannesburg on Saturday evening, with 14 more injured. In a separate shooting in the early hours of Sunday morning, 10 people … The post Two mass shootings in South Africa leave 28 dead appeared…
In South Africa, two mass shootings have claimed the lives of 28 people. The first incident occurred on Saturday evening when eight armed men attacked a bar near Johannesburg, killing 18 people and injuring 14 others. The second shooting took place early Sunday morning, outside an entertainment venue in a township near Cape Town. Ten people died outside the venue, and an additional 11 were injured inside.
South Africa grapples with one of the world's highest murder rates and has been struggling to control gang-related gun violence. Police have not identified a clear motive for the latest attacks, with only four victims identified so far in Johannesburg. Authorities believe the shootings may have been robbery-related, though turf wars involving illegal mining groups are also possible.
In Johannesburg, the attackers entered the bar, opened fire on customers, then continued shooting inside, setting two vehicles ablaze before fleeing. Police suspect victims were from Ethiopia and Lesotho, but the majority were South African. The motive remains unclear, though authorities believe personal belongings were taken during the attack.
In Cape Town, the early morning shooting took place outside an entertainment venue. Five victims died at the scene, and five more succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. No arrests have been made in either case. The attacks come days after 11 people were killed in Durban when gunmen stormed a house. Illegal weapons and gun violence are prevalent in South Africa, with about 60 murders reported daily.
Recent mass shootings have heightened fears that the problem may be worsening, with many incidents linked to turf wars between gangs engaged in drug trafficking and illegal mining.
A tenth woman's body was found in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, on Saturday, with police unable to rule out a serial killer.
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