Gunmen kill 10 in township attack near Johannesburg

Johannesburg: At least 10 people were killed and another 10 injured when unknown gunmen opened fire in a township outside Johannesburg, police said on Sunday, marking the second mass shooting in South Africa this month.

According to police, the attack took place in Bekkersdal, around 40 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.

“Some victims were randomly shot in the streets by unknown gunmen,” police said in a statement. Gauteng province police spokesperson Brenda Muridili confirmed that 10 people had died, adding that authorities were still working to identify the victims.

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The shooting occurred near a tavern or informal bar in Bekkersdal, an impoverished area located close to some of South Africa’s major gold mines. The wounded were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Earlier this month, on December 6, gunmen stormed a hostel near the capital Pretoria, killing 12 people, including a three-year-old child. Police later said that incident took place at a site where alcohol was being sold illegally.

South Africa, home to around 63 million people, continues to face high levels of violent crime and has one of the highest murder rates in the world.