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South Africa two mass shootings leave dozens dead
DW.com • • general
Key Points:
- At least 27 people were killed in two separate mass shootings in South Africa's Gauteng and Western Cape provinces overnight, with 17 killed in Wedela township near Johannesburg and 10 in Lwandle township, Cape Town.
- In the Wedela shooting, eight armed suspects reportedly searched patrons and took cellphones before fleeing; police have launched a manhunt but the motive remains unknown.
- The Lwandle shooting resulted in 10 deaths and 11 injuries at an entertainment venue, with police forming a multi-disciplinary team to investigate and no arrests yet made.
- These incidents follow a recent mass shooting in KwaZulu-Natal province where 11 people were killed, highlighting South Africa's ongoing struggle with violent crime and one of the world's highest murder rates.
- Authorities continue to deploy increased police and military resources to combat rampant criminality, which President Cyril Ramaphosa has identified as a major national challenge.
