Tragic Tavern Shooting in South Africa Claims Nine Lives

Mon Dec 22 2025 06:38:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A shocking incident at a tavern in Bekkersdal near Johannesburg leaves nine dead and ten injured, prompting a manhunt for the assailants.

In a tragic event on Sunday morning, gunmen opened fire at a tavern in Bekkersdal, South Africa, resulting in the deaths of nine people and injuring ten others. The attack, which involved around twelve unidentified individuals, highlighted the ongoing issue of violence and the high murder rate in the region. Local authorities have called for increased security measures, including military involvement, as they contend with a culture of fear and crime in the community.

A manhunt is under way after a shooting at a tavern in South Africa left nine people dead and another 10 injured.

Police said seven men and two women were killed in Bekkersdal, near Johannesburg, after about 12 unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire at patrons.

The shooting happened at about 01:00 local time on Sunday and the perpetrators continued to shoot randomly as [people] fled the scene, police added.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Sixty-three people were killed every day on average between April and September this year, according to police figures.

Murders are often the result of arguments, robberies, and gang violence. The motive for this attack is not clear.

At the scene, deputy provincial police commissioner Maj-Gen Fred Kekana told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the perpetrators, armed with pistols and one AK-47, were unprovoked.

The poor patrons were just enjoying themselves when people came and shot, he said.

Two of the victims were shot outside the tavern as they tried to flee and a third was a taxi driver who had dropped off a passenger nearby, Maj-Gen Kekana added.

Resident Nokuthula Bhukwana went to the tavern after she heard the shooting.

When we arrived at the scene, we opened the doors and indeed scores of people were lying on the floor, she told the Reuters news agency.

She described the tragic scene where some victims needed to be transported to a clinic via wheelbarrow due to the lack of ambulances at that moment.

Local residents express fear over living in Bekkersdal, stating gunfire has become a usual occurrence at night.

They attribute the increasing violence to insufficient policing and rampant gun ownership, with estimates suggesting that there are nearly as many unlicensed firearms as permissible ones.

Authorities are calling for a military presence to help quell the violence and restore safety in the community.

This incident underscores the growing concern regarding mass shootings, which have reportedly been on the rise in South Africa.