Johannesburg mass shooting: 12 gunmen open fire at crowd — 9 killed, 10 injured | Top updates
In a recent mass shooting in Johannesburg, nine people were killed and ten others suffered injuries. This marks second such deadly event in South Africa within a month.
Written By Fareha Naaz
Updated21 Dec 2025, 03:11 PM IST
Johannesburg mass shooting on Sunday morning sent shockwaves across the world after around 12 unknown suspects opened fire at customers outside a bar. As per Reuters report, around nine people were killed and 10 wounded in the second such shooting in South Africa this month.
While South African Police Service launched a manhunt for the suspects in the case, here's what we know so far:
- The assailants opened fire at the tavern patrons at around 1:00 AM (local time) in Johannesburg's Bekkersdal township.
- The place where the firing took place is a gold mining area which is located 40 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of Johannesburg city.
- Preliminary probe revealed that the suspects arrived in a white minibus and a silver sedan before they opened fire at the tavern patrons.
- Initially the death toll was estimated to be 10 but the authorities revised the figure and updated it to 9.
- The motive for the shooting would be determined by further investigation.
- The attackers in two vehicles "opened fire at tavern patrons and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene," AFP quoted the South African police statement.
- A driver from an online car-hailing service was among the deceased, provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana informed a local news outlet.
- The gunmen then stole valuables and phones from the victims and fled from the spot.
- "They entered the tavern and randomly shot at the patrons, unprovoked," Kekana said adding, “It's also reported that after they shot the people, they searched them. They took their valuables, including cell phones”.
- The police commissioner said most of the attackers were armed with pistols and one had an AK-47 rifle.
- The injured were rushed to nearby hospital for medical treatment, the police said.
This mass shooting comes almost 15 days after Saulsville shooting in which a dozen people were killed, including a 3-year-old child. On 6 December, gunmen stormed a hostel located near the capital Pretoria, in Atteridgeville, in one of the deadliest recent incidents.