South Africa is facing renewed concern over violent crime after two separate mass shootings over the weekend left 28 people dead, with police warning that investigations are continuing into the attacks.
The death toll rose after one of the people wounded in a shooting at a tavern in Wedela, west of Johannesburg, died in hospital on Monday.
The latest violence has added to concerns in a country where gun crime, organised criminal networks, illegal mining and extortion continue to contribute to high levels of violence.
Wedela tavern attack claims 18 lives
The deadliest incident occurred late Saturday in Wedela, a semi-rural township about 80km from central Johannesburg.
Police said heavily armed gunmen entered a crowded tavern and opened fire, killing 13 men and four women at the scene or subsequently in hospital.
Authorities confirmed on Monday that another victim had died, taking the number of fatalities from the attack to 18.
Only four victims had been formally identified at the time of the latest police update, including two South African nationals and two citizens of Lesotho.
Illegal mining suspected to have fuelled local tensions
Wedela lies in an area affected by illicit gold mining, where rival criminal groups have been competing for control of abandoned mining operations.
The tavern owner told journalists that gang rivalry linked to illegal mining had affected the area. She said the shooting had left her frightened about continuing to operate the business.
Thousands of undocumented miners are believed to work in abandoned mine shafts across South Africa, particularly around the goldfields near Johannesburg. Many come from neighbouring southern African countries, including Lesotho.
Ten killed in separate Cape Town shooting
A second mass shooting occurred early Sunday at a shisanyama in Lwandle, a township outside Cape Town.
Police said 10 people were killed and 11 others wounded when gunmen opened fire at the establishment.
Videos circulated on social media appeared to show people socialising before gunshots suddenly erupted, sending those inside running for safety.
Police have not established a motive for the attack. One official suggested that business rivalry could have played a role.
Further shootings add to Cape Town violence
The weekend violence extended beyond the Lwandle attack.
On Saturday, police discovered three men with multiple gunshot wounds in and around a vehicle in Khayelitsha. A fourth man later died while being transported to hospital.
Two additional people were killed in another informal settlement in Cape Town, an area where authorities have previously raised concerns about extortion and gangs demanding protection payments from businesses.
Organised crime remains a major concern
Experts say South Africa’s widespread availability of firearms has contributed to recurring shootings linked to organised crime, illegal mining, gang activity and extortion.
Julian Rademeyer, an adviser to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, said there have been at least 41 mass killings this year, resulting in 196 deaths.
The latest incidents come only days after another deadly attack in which 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed when gunmen stormed a homestead in a township in Durban.
No arrests had been announced in that case at the time of the latest reports.
Army deployment highlights scale of security crisis
The continuing violence has increased pressure on authorities to tackle organised criminal networks.
In March, President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed the military to crime-affected areas around Johannesburg and Cape Town, describing organised crime as one of the most immediate threats to South Africa’s democracy and economic development.
The latest shootings are likely to intensify scrutiny of the government’s efforts to contain violent crime.
Ekurhuleni killings add another layer of concern
The weekend attacks occurred as authorities were already investigating the discovery of the bodies of 11 women in Johannesburg’s Ekurhuleni area over a 10-week period.
One of the bodies was discovered on Sunday. Police said most of the victims were aged between their 20s and 30s, with some reportedly found partially or completely undressed and showing signs of sexual assault.
On Monday, a separate incident in the same area claimed the life of a 23-year-old woman, who was shot during an alleged robbery while travelling to work.
Police said preliminary investigations had found no connection between that killing and the cases involving the women whose bodies were discovered.
Police appeal for information
With investigations continuing into the various attacks, the South African Police Service has appealed to members of the public who may have information to assist investigators.
The weekend’s bloodshed has once again highlighted the scale of South Africa’s struggle with firearms and organised violence, while placing renewed focus on the criminal networks operating in communities already grappling with high levels of insecurity.
