South African police were searching for suspects on Sunday after two separate mass shootings left 27 people dead and 26 others injured within hours, renewing concerns over gun violence and organized crime in the country.
Seventeen people were killed and 15 wounded when gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles opened fire at a tavern in Wedela township, about 80 km (50 miles) from Johannesburg, at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, police said.
A few hours later, 10 people were killed and 11 injured in another shooting in Lwandle, on the outskirts of Cape Town. Police said gunmen opened fire at about 2 a.m. on Sunday at a venue selling grilled meat.
No arrests had been made in either case, with detectives working to identify and locate the attackers. Police have not yet established a motive for the shootings.
Gunmen Open Fire in Gold-Mining Township
The Wedela shooting took place in an area where illegal mining is widespread. Some residents were reluctant to discuss the attack, citing fears over their safety.
One resident said illegal miners, commonly known as zama zamas, operate in the area. The isiZulu term refers to people who “take a chance”, and the miners have become a prominent feature of South Africa’s gold-mining regions, where authorities have also faced persistent concerns over armed criminal activity.
Soldiers and police pathologists were deployed to the scene after the attack. Two burnt vehicles were visible in the area, while the tavern where the shooting occurred displayed a sign stating that weapons were prohibited on the premises.
In Lwandle, crowds gathered behind police lines as investigators examined the scene. Residents and witnesses largely declined to speak to journalists, saying they feared possible reprisals.
Illegal Firearms Fuel Violent Crime
Crime expert Yusuf Abramjee said South Africa’s widespread illegal firearms problem continues to contribute to organized crime, gang violence and other forms of violent crime.
“South Africa has a serious illegal firearms problem,” Abramjee said, stressing that authorities should investigate not only the immediate shooters but also the wider criminal networks that may support such attacks.
The two shootings come amid renewed public concern over violent crime, with mass shootings and suspected gang-related killings continuing to draw attention to the country’s high murder rate.
Crime Looms Over November Local Elections
Crime is expected to be a major concern for voters in South Africa’s municipal elections in November, with the African National Congress facing further pressure over its support among voters.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described organized crime as a major threat to the country’s democracy and earlier this year authorized the deployment of soldiers to assist police in areas affected by serious criminal activity.
The latest attacks follow a separate shooting at a house party near Durban on Tuesday in which 11 people were killed. A series of women’s bodies discovered near Johannesburg since July has also intensified public concern over femicide and violent crime.
