South Africa police hunt suspects after twin shootings leave nearly 30 people dead
By Ross Adkin, Sophie Tanno, CNN
(CNN) — Police are hunting for suspects after two shootings overnight in South Africa left nearly 30 people dead, as the country grapples with a spate of violent crime.
South African police launched a manhunt Sunday after 17 people were killed and 15 wounded in a shooting in the township of Wedela in West Rand District outside Johannesburg.
Police said eight unidentified men opened fire on patrons drinking outside a tavern on Saturday evening local time, before they entered the establishment and “continued shooting at patrons inside.”
The alleged assailants were reportedly armed with pistols and AK-47 rifles, officers said.
“It is alleged that patrons were drinking inside and outside the tavern when the suspects arrived and opened fire on those outside. The suspects then entered the tavern and continued shooting at patrons inside,” South Africa police wrote on X. The attackers allegedly searched some patrons and took their cellphones before fleeing the scene in two unidentified motor vehicles.
Separately, 10 people were shot and killed at an entertainment venue in Lwandle, a township in the Western Cape, South Africa, early Sunday morning, police said.
Police reports indicate that gunmen entered early on Sunday local time and fired at patrons. Five people died at the scene while five others succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
A manhunt to find the suspects has been launched. No arrests have yet been made, according to police.
Mass shootings are not uncommon in South Africa. Last week 11 people, including a woman believed to be pregnant, were killed when gunmen opened fire at a house south of the city of Durban.
The latest police figures show that an average of 58 people were murdered each day in South Africa between January and March.
The violence has also left women particularly fearful. In recent weeks, the discovery of the bodies of 10 women in parts of Johannesburg, the country’s largest city, has caused widespread alarm. Several of the bodies were found near roads or in open areas, and police are investigating whether some of the deaths are connected.
This story has been updated with new developments.
Nimi Princewill contributed reporting.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
