South Africa Bar Shooting Death Toll Rises to 18 After Wedela Tavern Attack
The death toll from a mass shooting at a tavern west of Johannesburg has risen to 18, South African police said on Monday, after one more victim died in hospital. The attack, which happened late on Saturday, is one of the deadliest shootings the country has seen this year and part of an especially violent weekend.
What Happened in Wedela
According to police, eight gunmen armed with assault rifles stormed a bar in Wedela, a semi-rural township about 80 kilometres from central Johannesburg. The attackers opened fire on patrons inside, killing 13 men and four women at first. The number climbed to 18 when another injured person died in hospital on Monday. Eighteen other people were wounded in the attack.
Victims Still Being Identified
Police said only four of the dead have been identified so far: two South Africans and two nationals of Lesotho. The presence of Lesotho nationals among the victims has drawn attention to the many people from across southern Africa who live and work in South Africa, including in the informal mining sector. Officials have not yet named the victims publicly, and identification is continuing.
Possible Motive
The motive is not yet clear. Police have said the shooting may have been retaliation for an incident at the same tavern in August, when one person was killed and another was wounded. Investigators are working to establish whether the two events are connected. As of Monday, no arrests had been made.
A Second Mass Shooting in Cape Town
The Wedela attack was not the only mass shooting in the country that weekend. In a separate incident early on Sunday, gunmen killed 10 people and wounded 11 more at an eating and drinking venue in a township outside Cape Town. Police also reported no arrests in that case. Together, the two attacks left dozens of people dead or injured within roughly a day.
A Country Struggling With Violent Crime
South Africa has one of the highest per-capita murder rates in the world, and the country has a large number of both legal and illegal firearms. Shootings at taverns and informal drinking venues are common and are often linked to gang rivalry, extortion and competition between informal businesses.
In March, President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed the army to violence hotspots around Johannesburg and Cape Town. He had described organised crime as the most immediate threat to the country’s democracy and economic development. The weekend’s killings added to public alarm in a country already unsettled by the discovery of the bodies of 11 women over 10 weeks in the Ekurhuleni area of Johannesburg.
What Happens Next
Police say they are hunting the gunmen and have appealed for information from the community. Soldiers and officers have been seen near the scene as investigators collect evidence. Residents of Wedela remain shaken, and local leaders have called for stronger action against illegal firearms and organised crime.
As the investigation continues, the toll could still change, since some of the wounded may be in serious condition. Further updates are expected from the South African Police Service as identification of the victims and the search for the suspects progress.
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