9 killed, 10 wounded in South African pub shooting

Nine people have died and at least 10 others were wounded after a group of gunmen carried out a shooting at a South African pub during the early hours of Sunday, authorities said

Nine people have died and at least 10 others were wounded after a group of gunmen carried out a shooting at a South African pub during the early hours of Sunday, authorities said.

The incident occurred just before 1 a.m. in the township of Bekkersdal which is located 46 kilometers (28 miles) west of Johannesburg. It is the second mass shooting to happen in South Africa in three weeks.

About 12 unknown suspects in a white mini-bus and a silver sedan opened fire at pub patrons at KwaNoxolo tavern, in the Tambo section of Bekkersdal and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene according to police.

Family members of a victim react at the scene of an attack at a tavern in Bekkersdal on Dec. 21, 2025.Emmanuel Croset / AFP - Getty Images"Some victims were randomly shot in the streets by unknown gunmen," the police said of the incident that left nine people dead and 10 hospitalized.

Major General Fred Kekana, the acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, told The Associated Press at the scene that the gunmen, some of whom wore balaclavas, had one AK-47 rifle and several 9mm pistols.