JOHANNESBURG: At least 10 people were killed and another 10 injured when unknown gunmen opened fire in a township outside Johannesburg, police said on Sunday, marking the second mass shooting in South Africa this month.
According to police, the attack took place in Bekkersdal, around 40 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
“Some victims were randomly shot in the streets by unknown gunmen,” police said in a statement. Gauteng province police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that 10 people had died, adding that authorities were still verifying the identities of the victims.
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The shooting reportedly occurred near a tavern or informal bar in Bekkersdal, a poor area located close to some of South Africa’s major gold mines. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
Earlier this month, on December 6, gunmen stormed a hostel near the capital Pretoria, killing 12 people, including a three-year-old child. Police later said that attack had taken place at a site where alcohol was being sold illegally.
South Africa, with a population of about 63 million, continues to struggle with high levels of violent crime and has one of the highest murder rates in the world.
