Deadly Tavern Shooting in South Africa Claims Nine Lives

Sun Dec 21 2025 10:32:32 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a shocking incident, a shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal, South Africa, has resulted in the deaths of nine people, with ten others injured. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the unidentified gunmen involved in the attack.

South African police are conducting a manhunt after a violent tavern shooting in Bekkersdal left nine dead and ten injured. The attack was carried out by approximately twelve gunmen who opened fire indiscriminately at patrons around 1 AM local time. This incident underscores the country's ongoing struggle with gun violence and high murder rates.

South African police say a manhunt is under way after a shooting at a tavern left nine people dead and another 10 injured in a township near Johannesburg.

Authorities reported that about 12 unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles in Bekkersdal. Witnesses indicated that they 'opened fire at tavern patrons and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene'.

The shooting occurred around 1:00 AM local time on Sunday (23:00 GMT Saturday). Officials clarified that the tavern where the incident took place was fully licensed.

South Africa is known for having one of the highest murder rates globally, with 45 murders per 100,000 people, according to the latest figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for 2023-24.

This violent occurrence comes shortly after another horrific shooting earlier this month where at least 11 people, including a child, were killed at a hostel near Pretoria.