Nine killed in mass shooting at tavern near Johannesburg

Nine people were killed and 10 others wounded when armed assailants opened fire at a licensed tavern near Johannesburg early Sunday, the South African Police Service said.

The shooting occurred shortly before 1am local time at a licensed tavern in Bekkersdal township, about 40 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg, police said in a statement. According to investigators, around 12 suspects arrived in a white minibus and a silver sedan before opening fire on patrons inside the establishment.

Police said the attackers continued firing as they fled the scene. The wounded were taken to nearby hospitals, while the motive behind the attack remains under investigation.

Read: Three-Year-Old Among 11 Killed as Gunmen Attack Illegal Bar in Pretoria

The incident marks the second major mass shooting reported in South Africa this month. Earlier, 12 people were killed in an attack on a hostel near Pretoria.

Bekkersdal is part of the Rand West City local municipality and has been described by local authorities as an area facing high unemployment and poverty following the decline of gold mining.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates. Official figures show an average of about 60 killings per day, driven largely by violent crime, gang activity and the widespread availability of illegal firearms.