No fewer than 27 people have been killed and 26 others wounded in two separate mass shootings in South Africa, with the latest attacks adding to concerns over persistent gun violence in the country.
In the first incident, eight gunmen armed with assault rifles stormed a bar in Wedela, west of Johannesburg, at about 7:30 pm GMT on Saturday, killing 17 people and injuring 15 others.
The victims comprised 13 men and four women. The attackers first opened fire on customers drinking outside before moving into the bar and continuing the shooting.
Police said the suspects later set two vehicles ablaze before fleeing. No arrests had been made.
The Wedela attack occurred in a semi-rural township characterised by brick houses, small businesses, and large areas of land affected by mining. The area has also been targeted in a government crackdown on illegal mining, with soldiers working alongside police against criminal networks operating around abandoned mine shafts.
Police said the attack could have been retaliation for an incident at the same tavern last month in which one person was killed and another wounded. One of the latest victims was reportedly wanted by police in connection with that incident, although authorities said the motive for Saturday's attack remained unclear.
A second shooting occurred early Sunday at an entertainment venue in a township outside Cape Town, where 10 people were killed and 11 wounded.
Five victims died at the scene, while the others succumbed to their injuries while being transported to hospital. Video clips shared on social media showed revellers dancing and drinking before gunfire sent people running for cover.
Police said no suspect had been arrested in either shooting.
The attacks came as South Africa continues to battle widespread gun violence linked in part to gang rivalries and competition among informal businesses. The country, with a population of about 62 million, records roughly 60 murders daily.
The latest attacks followed another mass shooting in Durban last week, when gunmen stormed a house party and killed 11 people.
The South African government has repeatedly deployed the military to support police operations in areas affected by violent crime. In March, President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed soldiers to crime hotspots in Johannesburg, describing rampant crime as one of the country's major threats.
The military has also been deployed during periods of unrest, including the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, the riots that followed former President Jacob Zuma's imprisonment in 2021 and a wave of truck burnings in 2023.
In 2019, about 1,300 soldiers were deployed to support police operations in the gang-affected Cape Flats areas around Cape Town.
Despite those interventions, shootings and other violent crimes remain a persistent security challenge.
In Johannesburg, police also reported the killing of 10 women within one municipality over two months. The latest victim was found semi-naked and with signs of having been stoned to death on Saturday.
Police said a suspect had been arrested in connection with the killings. The nine other victims were mostly in their 20s and 30s, with some found stripped and showing signs of sexual assault.
Police have offered a 400,000 rand, about $25,000, reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers. The Democratic Alliance, South Africa's second-largest political party, has offered an additional $31,000.
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