19 killed in two bar shootings in South Africa

Africa, News July 11, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

At least 19 people have died after two random shootings were reported in a town close to Johannesburg and another in eastern South Africa, local authorities said.

A mass shooting at a tavern in Johannesburg’s Soweto township has killed 15 people and wounded at least 23 people with several in critical condition, according to police. Eyewitnesses said the people were shot randomly.

Attackers armed with rifles and 9mm pistols opened fire in the Orlando East bar in the township of Soweto. “You can see by the way the bullet cartridges are cast around that they were just shooting randomly,” said Gauteng province police commissioner Elias Mawela.

There were no details available regarding the assailants. Police say they are investigating the case and do not currently have the full details on the motive or why these people were targeted.

“Nobody has been arrested. Officers are still on site. They came and shot at people who were having fun,” said Kubheka, commander of the Orlando police station in the Soweto district.

In the eastern city of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal province, four people were killed and eight wounded in a bar when two men fired randomly and indiscriminately at the people, officials said.

“The team will be working around the clock to track down and bring to book those responsible for this shooting,” Kwazulu-Natal police commissioner Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said.

South Africa shooting — *^{A body is removed from the scene of an overnight bar shooting in Soweto, South Africa, on July 10, 2022, after a mass shooting. (Image Credit: AP/Shiraaz Mohamed)}*

President term attacks “unacceptable and worrying”

The violent deaths are “unacceptable and worrying” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement, offering condolences for the lives lost under similar circumstances in Soweto and Pietermaritzburg. “As a nation, we cannot allow violent criminals to terrorize us in this way, regardless of where such incidents may occur,” he said.

“As government, citizens and structures of civil society we must all work together even more closely to improve social and economic conditions in communities, reduce violent crime and stamp out the illicit circulation of firearms,” he said.

The twin shootings come two weeks after 21 teenagers were found dead in a tavern in South Africa’s East London. The cause of those deaths has not yet been declared by authorities.

South Africa is one of the world’s most violent countries with high murder rates and gang violence.