Tragic Tavern Shooting Claims Nine Lives in South Africa

Sun Dec 21 2025 14:12:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A brutal shooting incident at a tavern in Bekkersdal, near Johannesburg, left nine dead and ten injured. Police are now searching for the gunmen involved in this tragic event.

In a horrifying incident, gunmen attacked a tavern in Bekkersdal, South Africa, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals and injuries to ten others. The shooting occurred early Sunday morning when around 12 unidentified assailants opened fire on patrons before fleeing. The police have launched a manhunt as violence continues to plague South Africa, which has one of the highest murder rates globally.

South African police say a manhunt is under way after a shooting at a tavern left nine people dead and another 10 injured in a township near Johannesburg.

They say about 12 unidentified gunmen arrived in two cars in Bekkersdal, opened fire at tavern patrons and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene.

The shooting happened at about 01:00 local time on Sunday (23:00 GMT Saturday). The police added that the tavern was licensed.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, at 45 people per 100,000 according to 2023-24 figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Earlier this month, at least 11 people - including a child - were shot dead at a hostel near Pretoria.