Nine killed in 'random' mass shooting in South Africa
Johannesburg, Dec 21
At least nine people were killed, and several others sustained injuries after armed assailants opened fire indiscriminately in South Africa's West Rand region, local media reported on Sunday, citing police officials.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the shooting took place at the KwaNoxolo Tavern in the Tambo section of Bekkersdal in West Rand, local media outlet Times LIVE reported.
Mathe said that in addition to those targeted at the tavern, some of the victims were shot at random while they were on the street by unidentified gunmen.
The incident occurred in a township located near Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city and its main economic centre.
Gauteng Acting Police Commissioner Fred Kekana said authorities had launched a full-scale investigation into the incident.
"We are still busy obtaining statements. Our national crime and management team has arrived," Kekana told local media.
He added that multiple specialised units had been deployed to the scene.
"The provincial crime scene management team has arrived, and a team from the local criminal record centre is here, so is our serious crime investigating team, crime intelligence, and the provincial crime detective team is on scene," he said.
Police have not yet established the motive behind the shooting, and no arrests have been made so far.
The incident marks the latest in a series of mass shootings that have shaken the crime-hit country in recent years.
This is the second such shooting reported in South Africa this month.
On December 6, gunmen opened fire at a hostel in the capital city Pretoria, killing 12 people, including a three-year-old child.
That attack took place at a location that was allegedly operating as an illegal alcohol outlet.
In that earlier incident, at least three unidentified gunmen reportedly began firing "randomly" at a group of people who were drinking, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe had said at the time.
— IANS
Reader Comments
So tragic. And this is the second such incident this month? The authorities need to act swiftly. While we have our own challenges with crime in parts of India, this level of random public violence is terrifying. Hope they catch the culprits soon.
Reading this from Mumbai. It's a stark reminder that public safety is a global issue. Our police forces work hard to prevent such horrors. I hope South African police get all the resources they need for this investigation. No one should feel unsafe in their own neighborhood.
The article mentions both shootings were at places serving alcohol. While that doesn't justify the violence at all, it does point to a pattern. Maybe there's a deeper issue with illegal outlets and gang activity that needs to be addressed root and branch.
Terrible news. Makes you appreciate the relative peace we have in most parts of India. My cousin lives in Johannesburg for work, and he often talks about being cautious. This is exactly what he fears. Hope the police investigation yields results quickly.
A respectful criticism of the report: it focuses a lot on the police response, which is good, but it would be helpful to know more about the community's reaction and what support systems are in place for the victims' families. The human impact is the real story here.
N We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.