At least nine people were killed in a mass shooting in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday morning. Many were left injured. Police have now launched a manhunt.
Brig Brenda Muridili, police spokesperson for Gauteng province told AFP, “Ten people are dead. We don’t have a breakdown of who they are.”
The wounded have been taken to hospital, police said.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said that the shooting occurred at the KwaNoxolo Tavern in the Tambo section of Bekkersdal in West Rand. She said that it is reported that 12 suspects were involved. Major General Kekana is also on the scene.
“Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations, together with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit, have launched a manhunt for the suspects involved in a multiple shooting incident during the early hours in Bekkersdal on Sunday, 21 December 2025,” Mathe said.
“The incident occurred just before 01:00, at the Tambo section. It is reported that about 12 unknown suspects in a white kombi and a silver sedan opened fire at tavern patrons and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene. The tavern is licensed,” she added.
Gauteng Acting Police Commissioner Fred Kekana told local news, “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 centre is here, so is our serious crime investigating team, crime intelligence, and the provincial crime detective team is on scene.”
This is the second mass shooting in South Africa in December. On December 6, gunmen attacked a hostel at the capital Pretoria, killing a dozen people including a three-year-old. The shooting was at a site that was illegally selling alcohol.
This is a developing story
Nine killed in mass shooting at tavern in Bekkersdal, South Africa
