JOHANNESBURG and LONDON — At the very least 9 folks had been killed early Sunday as a gaggle of assailants opened fireplace with pistols and an assault rifle at a South African tavern, native police officers mentioned.
A bunch of as many as a dozen assailants arrived simply earlier than 1 a.m. at KWA Noxolo tavern in Bekkersdal township, which is west of Johannesburg, mentioned Brenda Muridili, a spokesperson for the South African Police Service.
The assailants exited from two automobiles — a white van and a silver sedan — then stormed into the bar and opened fireplace on patrons inside, police mentioned in a press release.
Residents watch as South African Police Service officers collect on the scene of an assault at a tavern in Bekkersdal on Dec. 21, 2025.
Emmanuel Croset/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Police mentioned it was not instantly clear from eyewitness accounts what number of assailants had arrived on the bar, however added that eyewitnesses had counted “about 12” suspects, who had been mentioned to be carrying at the least 9 pistols and one AK-47-style assault rifle. The entire alleged shooters had been considered males, police mentioned.
Three folks had been fatally shot contained in the tavern, Fred Kekana, the police commissioner of the Gauteng province, instructed reporters on Sunday.
South African Police Service officers watch as SAPS Forensic Pathology Providers members work on the scene of an assault at a tavern in Bekkersdal on Dec. 21, 2025.
Emmanuel Croset/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
The assailants continued their capturing spree outdoors the tavern, fatally capturing six extra folks, together with a passing driver, Kekana mentioned. At the very least 10 different folks had been injured, he mentioned.
Authorities mentioned the potential motive for the assault was not but identified. The assailants had been mentioned to have searched the our bodies of the useless and injured, from whom they had been mentioned to have stolen valuables, together with cellphones, police mentioned, citing eyewitnesses.
South African Police Service officers stand on the scene of an assault at a tavern in Bekkersdal on December 21, 2025. 9 folks had been killed when gunmen opened fireplace at a bar outdoors Johannesburg early on Dec. 21, 2025.
Emmanuel Croset/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
The tavern operated as an a shebeen, a sort of casual licensed bar that’s common in townships. Bekkersdal sits about 25 miles west of Johannesburg, in Gauteng’s West Rand space, which traditionally was dotted with small cities supporting native mining operations.
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