December 21, 2025 l By Dalena Reporters
Bekkersdal, South Africa — At least nine people were killed and 10 others wounded in a mass shooting early Sunday in the Bekkersdal township, located about 40 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg, authorities and local media report. The attack one of the latest in a series of gun violence incidents in South Africa occurred in the early hours of December 21, 2025, near a licensed tavern where patrons were gathered.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), approximately 12 unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles described by witnesses and law enforcement as a white minibus and a silver sedan before opening fire on patrons and passers-by. The assailants reportedly continued firing indiscriminately as they fled the scene, striking some victims inside the establishment and others on surrounding streets.
The shooting took place shortly before 1 a.m. local time (23:00 GMT Saturday) at the KwaNoxolo Tavern in Bekkersdal’s Tambo section, local reports said. Police and emergency services responded to the scene and transported the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment; some are reported in serious condition.
Among the deceased was a driver for an online ride-hailing service, who was outside the tavern at the time of the attack, provincial police officials told national broadcasters. Authorities have not yet released the identities of other victims.
At present, authorities have not determined a motive for the attack. The SAPS has launched a manhunt for the suspects, with Gauteng’s Serious and Violent Crime Unit and the Crime Detection and Tracing Unit among those involved in the investigation. Police have appealed to members of the public for information that could help trace those responsible.
This devastating event marks the second major mass shooting reported in South Africa this December, following a deadly early-December attack near Pretoria that left 12 people dead including children at an illegal bar in Saulsville township.
South Africa continues to grapple with a high rate of violent crime and firearm-related homicides, despite strict gun ownership laws. Analysts point to the widespread circulation of illegal firearms, entrenched socio-economic challenges such as unemployment and poverty, and organized criminal activity as contributing factors to the nation’s persistent violence.
Bekkersdal — a township historically shaped by ties to gold-mining activity and marked by socio-economic hardships has been thrust into national attention as families, first responders, and authorities cope with the aftermath of yet another mass shooting. Local residents have expressed shock and grief as the community mourns the victims and awaits further developments in the investigation.