Dec 21 (Reuters) – Nine people were killed and 10 wounded in an early morning shooting in a township south-west of Johannesburg and authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects, the South African Police Service said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred just before 1 a.m. local time (2300 GMT) at a licensed tavern in Johannesburg’s Bekkersdal township, the police said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n About 12 unknown suspects in a white minibus and a silver sedan opened fire at the tavern patrons and continued shooting randomly as they fled the scene, the police said, adding the motive for the shooting would be determined by investigation.<\/p>\n Item 1 of 3 Photo marker cones are placed across the scene after an early morning shooting in Bekkersdal township south-west of Johannesburg, South Africa, December 21, 2025. South African Police Services\/Handout via REUTERS<\/p>\n [1\/3]Photo marker cones are placed across the scene after an early morning shooting in Bekkersdal township south-west of Johannesburg, South Africa, December 21, 2025. South African Police Services\/Handout via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n The injured have been taken to medical facilities for treatment, police added.<\/p>\n Bekkersdal is part of the Rand West City local municipality, whose website describes the township as being an area characterised by high levels of unemployment and poverty due to a decline in gold mining.<\/p>\n South Africa, Africa’s biggest economy, has one of the world’s highest murder rates, averaging about 60 a day.<\/p>\n Reporting by Mihika Sharma and Anusha Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard and Jamie Freed<\/p>\n Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n