Nine people were killed and around 10 others injured in a shooting at a tavern in the Bekkersdal township, southwest of Johannesburg, during the early hours of Sunday, South African police said.
According to authorities, unknown gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire on patrons at the tavern, continuing to shoot randomly as they fled the scene.
The attack occurred at around 1:00 a.m. Johannesburg time. Police initially reported 10 fatalities but later revised the death toll to nine, international news agencies report.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, and a manhunt is under way for approximately a dozen suspects believed to have been involved. Police have urged witnesses to come forward with information.
Bekkersdal is a densely populated and an impoverished area located near several major gold mines. While the establishment was initially described as informal, police later confirmed that the tavern was licensed.
South Africa continues to struggle with high levels of gun violence, fueled in part by the widespread circulation of illegal firearms.
According to official statistics, dozens of people are killed daily, with many deaths linked to gang-related and organized crime.
The country ranks among those with the highest murder rates globally, with killings reaching a 20-year high last year.
