Nine Killed in Mass Shooting at Bekkersdal Township Tavern Near Johannesburg
Nine people were killed and ten wounded in a shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal township, about 40 km southwest of Johannesburg, during the early hours of 21 December 2025. The attack involved multiple gunmen, most firing pistols, with one assailant armed with an AK-47. Three victims died inside the bar while others were killed as they fled. The attackers searched the victims and stole valuables, including cell phones. Among the dead was a driver for an online car-hailing service.
Police launched a manhunt and appealed for public assistance following the incident. Maj Gen Fred Kekana described the attack as random and unprovoked. This event marks South Africa’s second mass shooting in December 2025, following a previous attack near Pretoria on 6 December that left 12 people dead, including a three-year-old child.
The shootings occur amid a context of South Africa's high murder rate and widespread availability of firearms, both legal and illegal, with many shootings linked to gangs and criminal networks.
