At least nine people lost their lives and ten others were hurt in a mass shooting in South Africa near Johannesburg. The shooting occurred in the Bekkersdal township, after which the attackers escaped, leading police to launch a manhunt for the suspects. 

In a post on X, the SA Police Service said, “Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations together with Crime Detection Tracing Unit have launched a manhunt for the suspects involved in a multiple shooting incident during the early hours in Bekkersdal on Sunday, 21 December 2025. The incident has resulted in nine people being killed and 10 being injured.” 

As per the police, around 12 unidentified suspects, travelling in a white kombi and a silver sedan, opened fire on patrons at a licensed tavern. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers continued firing indiscriminately as they fled the scene.

“The incident occurred just before 01:00, at the Tambo section. 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. The tavern is licensed,” SA Police Service added in the post.

Earlier Incidents

Earlier this month, a mass shooting occurred in Pretoria, leaving 12 people dead, including three children aged 3, 12, and 16, and injuring 13 others. The incident took place at a bar inside a hostel in the Saulsville township, located in South Africa’s administrative capital, according to police reports.

Police data shows that an average of 63 people were killed daily between April and September. The majority of these deaths resulted from personal disputes, while robberies and gang-related violence also contributed significantly to the total.

Reports indicate that South Africa continues to have one of the world’s highest homicide rates, with more than 26,000 murders recorded in 2024, averaging nearly 70 killings per day.