Manhunt underway in South Africa after gunmen open fire at tavern, killing 9 and wounding 10

Nine radical were killed and astatine slightest 10 others wounded erstwhile gunmen opened occurrence wrong a South African pub aboriginal Sunday, sparking a manhunt for the attackers successful the country’s 2nd wide shooting successful little than a month.

The shooting happened conscionable earlier 1 a.m. astatine KwaNoxolo tavern successful Bekkersdal, a township located 28 miles westbound of Johannesburg. Police said astir 12 chartless suspects successful a achromatic mini-bus and a metallic sedan opened occurrence astatine pub patrons and continued to sprout randomly arsenic they sped distant from the scene.

"Some victims were randomly changeable successful the streets by chartless gunmen," constabulary said.

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South African constabulary stitchery astatine the country of a wide shooting wherever gunmen killed 9 and injured astatine slightest 10 successful a pub successful Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)

Maj. Gen. Fred Kekana, Gauteng’s acting provincial commissioner, told The Associated Press that the gunmen, immoderate of whom covered their faces with balaclavas, were equipped with an AK-47 firearm and respective 9mm pistols.

Onlookers stitchery astatine the country of a wide shooting wherever gunmen killed 9 and injured astatine slightest 10 successful a pub successful Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)

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Authorities person launched a manhunt for the suspects, led by Gauteng’s Serious and Violent Crime Investigations portion successful coordination with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit.

South African constabulary stitchery astatine the country of a wide shooting wherever gunmen killed 9 and injured astatine slightest 10 successful a pub successful Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)

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The onslaught follows a drawstring of wide shootings astatine bars — often called shebeens oregon taverns successful South Africa. Earlier this month, aggregate gunmen opened occurrence astatine an unlicensed barroom adjacent the capital, sidesplitting astatine slightest 12 radical and injuring 13 others.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.