Overview
- Police say about 12 assailants arrived in a white kombi and a silver sedan just before 1 a.m. and opened fire at KwaNoxolo Tavern in Bekkersdal.
- Nine people were killed and at least 10 were injured, with some victims shot in nearby streets as the gunmen fled; a ride‑hailing driver is among the dead.
- Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations and the Crime Detection and Tracing Unit are leading the manhunt, supported by forensic teams and crime intelligence.
- Officials report most attackers carried pistols and one had an AK‑47, and eyewitness accounts indicate the shooters searched victims and stole valuables including cellphones.
- The attack is South Africa’s second mass shooting this month following the Saulsville hostel killings, underscoring persistent gun violence tied to illegal firearms.