Manhunt Launched After Shooting Leaves Nine Dead Near Johannesburg
South African police have launched a large‑scale manhunt after a mass shooting at a tavern in a township on the outskirts of Johannesburg claimed at least nine lives and injured ten others, authorities said on Monday. The incident, which took place in the early evening, involved a group of armed men who opened fire on patrons inside the establishment before fleeing the scene.
According to statements from the South African Police Service (SAPS), the attackers entered the venue through the back entrance, fired indiscriminately, and then escaped in a vehicle that was later recovered by investigators. Emergency services rushed the wounded to nearby hospitals, where medical staff reported that the majority of the injured sustained gunshot wounds to the torso and limbs. Police have confirmed that the victims included both men and women, ranging in age from young adults to senior citizens.
Local officials described the attack as part of a broader pattern of violent crime that has plagued several townships around the metropolitan area in recent months. Community leaders called for increased security measures and urged residents to cooperate with law‑enforcement efforts. The provincial government announced that additional police units would be deployed to the region, and a task force comprising crime‑prevention experts and forensic investigators has been established to assist with the investigation.
Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting, but they indicated that the incident is being treated as a possible gang‑related or robbery‑linked attack. A spokesperson for the SAPS said that investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and tracing the vehicle used by the suspects. The ongoing manhunt is expected to continue for several days as police work to locate and apprehend those responsible. The incident underscores the challenges faced by South Africa’s security forces in curbing firearm‑related violence and maintaining public safety in densely populated townships.
