Police in South Africa have launched a manhunt for eight unidentified suspects after a mass shooting at a tavern in Wedela, West Rand, left 17 people dead and 15 others wounded.
A deadly shooting at a tavern in Wedela, in South Africa’s West Rand District, has left 17 people dead and 15 others injured, prompting police to launch a manhunt for eight unidentified suspects.
The attack happened on Saturday evening, September 26, 2026. According to police, patrons were drinking both inside and outside the tavern when the gunmen arrived and opened fire.
The attackers allegedly first shot at people outside the establishment before entering the tavern and continuing to fire at patrons inside.
Police said the suspects were armed with pistols and AK-47 rifles. After the shooting, they allegedly searched some victims and took their cellphones before escaping in two unidentified vehicles.
Emergency medical personnel declared 17 people dead at the scene, while 15 others who suffered gunshot wounds were taken to medical facilities for treatment.
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Police Launch Manhunt
South African police have identified eight unidentified men as suspects in the attack. No arrests had been made at the time of the latest reports, and investigators are continuing efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify those responsible.
The motive for the attack has not been publicly established.
The shooting is the latest in a series of deadly gun attacks in South Africa, where mass shootings at taverns and other gathering places have repeatedly claimed lives.
South Africa Continues to Face High Levels of Violent Crime
The latest attack comes against the backdrop of persistently high murder levels in South Africa.
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Official crime statistics covering January through March 2026 recorded 5,181 murders nationwide, equivalent to an average of about 58 killings every day. Although the figure represented a 9.5% decline from the same period in 2025, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said the country’s levels of violence remained high.
The Wedela shooting adds another major incident to the country’s recent record of deadly attacks and has renewed attention on gun violence and public safety.
Police investigations into Saturday night’s shooting remain ongoing.
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