Sun 21 December 2025:
According to the South Africa’s police At least 9 people were killed and 10 others were wounded in a shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, on Sunday.
South African Broadcasting Corp (SABC) News reported that the attack occurred overnight at the KwaNoxolo tavern in the Tambo section, when unknown gunmen randomly opened fire on patrons inside the venue and people gathered outside.
The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Police initially confirmed 9 deaths and said officers remained at the scene as investigations continued.
Gauteng Acting Police Commissioner Fred Kekana said multiple units had been deployed.
“We are still busy obtaining statements. Our national crime and management team has arrived. The provincial crime scene management team has arrived and a team from the local criminal record center is here, so is our serious crime investigating team, crime intelligence, and the provincial crime detective team is on scene,” he said.
Bekkersdal is a densely populated community that has long faced high levels of poverty and unemployment. It was established in 1945 to house South Africans working in nearby towns and surrounding gold mines and was granted municipal status in 1983.
The township has a history of unrest and was the site of violent protests ahead of South Africa’s general elections on May 7, 2014.
South Africa police urge tighter tavern security after Bekkersdal shooting
The South African police have urged tavern owners to strengthen security measures following the deadly shooting.
Brigadier Brenda Muridili told Al Jazeera that witnesses reported suspects began shooting randomly at patrons. She said a rifle and handguns were used in the attack.
Forensic teams have been deployed to collect evidence and identify those responsible, Muridili said, adding that sources and informants on the ground were assisting the investigation. The violent crimes unit has also been mobilised.
It was the second shooting in the area in two weeks. Muridili said the tavern was licensed and operating within the law.
Police are encouraging bar owners to have visible security at entrances, while regular patrols are continuing, she added.
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Bekkersdal attack latest in string of deadly shootings in South Africa
The Bekkersdal attack comes amid persistently high levels of gun violence across South Africa, where mass shootings have become increasingly frequent.
On December 6, at least 12 people, including a three-year-old, were killed when attackers opened fire at a hostel in Saulsville township, west of Pretoria. Fourteen people were wounded.
Police said at least three attackers fired randomly at people. The victims included children aged three, 12 and 16.
In another incident, 18 people were shot dead at a rural homestead in Eastern Cape province in September 2024.
Police data shows an average of 63 people were killed each day between April and September.
Recent high-profile shootings in South Africa
South Africa was shocked by the daylight killing of a popular former radio presenter, DJ Warras, in central Johannesburg last week.
The 40-year-old, whose real name was Warras Stock, was shot on December 16 outside a building that he had visited as part of his work with a private security company.
In another high-profile killing, a witness in a corruption inquiry was shot dead in front of his family on December 5, just weeks after testifying against a municipal police chief.
The murder of Marius van der Merwe, 41, reignited a debate about the targeting of whistleblowers who provide information related to crime and corruption, including the public sector and cases implicating government officials.
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with an average of 63 people killed each day between April and September, according to police data.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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