At least 27 killed in two mass shootings in South Africa, police say

South Africa mass shooting: 27 dead and 26 wounded in AK-47 attacks on a Wedela tavern and Lwandle venue on Sept 27, 2026. Police hunt suspects; no arrests.

Two mass shootings in Johannesburg and Cape Town left at least 27 people dead and 26 wounded, as gunmen opened fire at a tavern and shisanyama venue.

The two attacks hours apart come as the country struggles to stop high levels of gang-related armed violence.

Eight gunmen armed with assault rifles opened fire at a bar west of Johannesburg, in the latest of two mass shootings reported in the country this weekend

At least 27 people were killed and 26 others injured in two separate mass shootings in South African townships over the weekend, with attacks reported near Johannesburg and Cape Town. Police launched manhunts for the gunmen, with no arrests reported in either case as of the latest updates.17 Killed In Wedela Tavern ShootingThe first attack took place at around 9:30 pm on Saturday, September 26, at a tavern in Wedela township in Gauteng’s West Rand district, southwest of Johannesburg.#BREAKING27 killed in two mass shootings near South Africa’s biggest citiesPolice say 17 people were killed and 15 wounded after gunmen armed with AK-47s and pistols opened fire at a bar in Wedela, southwest of JohannesburgHours later, 10 people were killed and 11 wounded… pic.twitter.com/rJX96AQus0— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) September 27, 2026 According to Reuters, eight suspects armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols allegedly opened fire on patrons outside the tavern before entering the premises and continuing to shoot. Seventeen people 13 men and four women were killed, while 15 others suffered gunshot wounds.eNCA reported that the attackers allegedly robbed some patrons of their mobile phones before fleeing in two vehicles. Two other vehicles were also set on fire. Police said the motive for the shooting was not immediately known and launched a manhunt for the suspects.Emergency medical personnel declared all 17 victims dead at the scene, while the injured were taken to medical facilities for treatment.10 Killed In Lwandle ShootingHours later, another mass shooting was reported in Lwandle township near Cape Town in the Western Cape.According to the Associated Press (AP), 10 people were killed after gunmen opened fire at a store in Lwandle at around 1 am on Sunday. Another 11 people were wounded in the attack. Police said multiple suspects were being sought, although their exact number was not immediately known.The motive behind the Lwandle shooting also remains unclear. Police were conducting searches for the attackers, with no arrests reported in the latest updates.Attacks Follow Deadly KwaMakhutha ShootingThe two shootings came just days after another deadly attack near Durban.According to AP, three gunmen opened fire at a house party in KwaMakhutha township, killing 11 people, including a pregnant woman. The latest incidents have renewed attention on South Africa’s longstanding problem of violent crime and shootings targeting people at social venues.Shocking! 2 Planes Spark Major Scare After Flying Dangerously Low Over Packed Stadium During South Africa vs New Zealand Rugby Clash | Video Police Launch ManhuntsPolice investigations into both the Wedela and Lwandle shootings remain underway. Authorities have not yet established the motives behind the attacks or indicated whether the two incidents are connected.In the Wedela case, police said the suspects were armed with assault rifles and pistols and targeted people both outside and inside the tavern. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence and search for those responsible.

Seventeen people killed at bar near Johannesburg and 10 killed in separate incident at store near Cape TownTwo separate mass shootings near South Africa’s two biggest cities killed at least 27 people, police have said.The South African police service said on Sunday that 17 people were killed on Saturday night when eight suspects armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols opened fire at a bar in Wedela township, south-west of Johannesburg. At least 15 other people sustained gunshot injuries in that attack, police said. Continue reading...