At least nine people killed in mass shooting near Johannesburg

22 Dec 2025 • 7:00 PM MYT
Euronews
Euronews

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At least nine people have been killed and 10 injured in a shooting near Johannesburg in the early hours of Sunday.

South African police have launched a manhunt and are searching for what they believe are a dozen suspects.

The attack happened at 1 am local time at a tavern in Bekkersdal, a township southwest of the city. Police have also called on witnesses to come forward with any information.

In a social media post on X, police said: “It is reported that about 12 unknown suspects in a white kombi and a silver sedan opened fire at tavern patrons and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene.”

Mass shootings are common in South Africa. On 6 December, 12 people were killed and 14 others were wounded when gunmen opened fire at a hostel in the Saulsville township, west of Pretoria.