Two Mass Shootings in South Africa Result in 27 Deaths

<p>Two mass shootings occurred roughly four hours apart, resulting in at least 27 fatalities in South Africa over the weekend, bringing the total death toll from recent township shootings to at least 38.</p><p>The first attack took place around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday in Wedela, located in Gauteng province's West Rand mining district. Police reported that eight men armed with AK-47s and handguns opened fire on patrons outside a tavern before entering and continuing to shoot. Seventeen individuals, including 13 men and four women, were killed, and 15 others sustained injuries. The assailants stole cellphones from some victims before fleeing in two vehicles, while two other cars were set ablaze at the scene.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/sapsGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sapsGP</a> [GAUTENG POLICE LAUNCH MANHUNT AFTER 17 PEOPLE KILLED IN WEDELA TAVERN SHOOTING]</p><p>Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for eight unidentified armed men following a deadly shooting at a tavern in Extension 3, Wedela, West Rand District, on Saturday, 26 September 2026, at… <a href="https://t.co/2G4jNsYcU6">pic.twitter.com/2G4jNsYcU6</a></p><p>— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) <a href="https://x.com/SAPoliceService/status/2104082089695945065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 27, 2026</a></p></blockquote><p>Shortly before 2 a.m. on Sunday, another shooting occurred at a shisanyama, a barbecue spot that also serves as a bar, in Lwandle, near Somerset West outside Cape Town, resulting in 10 deaths and 11 injuries. The police have not disclosed the number of gunmen involved in this incident.</p><p>No arrests have been made in either shooting. According to Reuters, investigators are exploring a turf war among illegal gold miners, known locally as "zama zamas," as a potential motive for one of the shootings, while a business rivalry may have motivated the other. A senior Gauteng police official stated that one of the victims in Wedela had been wanted in connection with a previous shooting at the same tavern last month.</p><p>Authorities have not indicated that race was a factor in any of the attacks, which affected both South African and foreign nationals in Wedela, and have linked the violence to gang conflicts and the illegal gold trade. This violence is separate from the attacks on white-owned farms that have been highlighted by President Donald Trump.</p><p>The recent violence followed a previous incident where three gunmen killed 11 people, including a pregnant woman, at a house party in KwaMakhutha on Tuesday night.</p><p>President Cyril Ramaphosa stated in local media on Sunday, "It cannot go on like this," and mentioned that security forces had been instructed to enhance their efforts against violent crime.</p><p>In March, Ramaphosa deployed 2,200 soldiers to high-crime areas across five provinces, including regions around Johannesburg and Cape Town, as part of a yearlong operation targeting gangs and illegal mining. Police statistics indicate that South Africa recorded 5,427 homicides between April and June, averaging close to 60 per day, with shootings being the leading cause.</p>