The aftermath of a tavern shooting in South Africa (file image)
Mass shooting at South African tavern kills at least 17: AFP
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- The South African Police Service (SAPS) said emergency medical services declared all 17 victims dead at the scene.
- Suspects were reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols; the motive for the attack is not yet known.
- Police have launched a manhunt for those responsible; no arrests have been reported so far.
South African police said on Sunday they had launched a manhunt after 17 people were killed in a shooting at a tavern in Wedela township, southwest of Johannesburg. An additional 15 people were injured.
Emergency medical services declared all 17 victims dead at the scene, the South African Police Service said, adding that suspects were reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols.
The motive for the shooting was not known, police said.
South Africa has a long history of mass shootings at taverns and shebeens, informal, often unlicensed bars, frequently linked to gang rivalries, extortion, or disputes tied to illegal liquor and firearms, though authorities have often struggled to establish a motive quickly, if at all, in similar past cases.
No arrests had been announced as of publication. This is a developing story.
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