Two separate mass shootings near South Africa’s two biggest cities killed at least 27 people. In Wedela township, southwest of Johannesburg, 17 people were killed and at least 15 others were injured when eight suspects armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols opened fire at a bar. Emergency medical services declared 13 males and 4 females dead at the scene.
In a separate attack, 10 people were fatally shot at a tavern in Lwandle, near Cape Town. South African police have launched a search for the suspects involved in these incidents.
These attacks come days after a mass shooting in Durban. South Africa continues to grapple with persistent gun violence often linked to gang rivalries, as gang violence and organized crime remain major issues in a country with one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world.