South Africa mass shootings toll rises to 28 as police hunt gunmen

Two mass shootings in South African townships over the weekend killed 28 people. The attacks have deepened alarm over violent crime as police hunt multiple suspects.

In Short

• Weekend shootings in Wedela and Lwandle left 28 people dead overall
• One hospitalised victim died later, raising Wedela tavern fatalities to 18
• Gunmen used AK-47 rifles, robbed patrons, and torched two cars

South African authorities on Monday raised the combined death toll from two mass shootings over the weekend to 28 after another victim from one of the attacks died in hospital. The two shootings took place on Saturday night in townships near Johannesburg and Cape Town, and police said no arrests had been made so far.

The attacks have shocked South Africa, a country that has struggled with violent crime for years and is used to some of the highest homicide rates in the world. Police said they were searching for multiple suspects in the second shooting, while detectives and members of the South African Defence Force were investigating both incidents.

In the first attack, in Wedela township near Johannesburg, gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed a tavern on Saturday night. Police said they first opened fire on patrons outside the bar before moving inside and continuing to shoot. The attackers searched some of the patrons, took their mobile phones and escaped in two vehicles. Two cars were also set on fire outside the bar during the shooting. Police said, "One more victim has died in hospital, bringing the total number of deceased to 18." Several others were wounded.

About four hours later on Saturday night, 10 people were killed and 11 wounded in a shooting at a store linked to what police described as an entertainment venue in Lwandle township near Cape Town, South Africa's second biggest city. Police said they were searching for multiple suspects, although they did not give an exact number.

Of those killed in Wedela, two were South Africans and two were Lesotho nationals. Police said these four were the only fatalities whose identities had been confirmed so far. "All the injured victims in hospital have been identified," police said, adding that five were "shot in the upper body and are critically wounded, while the others are in a stable condition." In all, the two shootings in Wedela and Lwandle have left 28 people dead, with investigations continuing and no arrests yet made.

With PTI Inputs

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