Nine people have died and ten were wounded after gunmen attacked a bar near Johannesburg in South Africa. The shooting happened early morning in Bekkersdal, a poor township about 40 km southwest of Johannesburg. Police initially said 10 were killed but later confirmed nine deaths. Deputy Provincial Police Commissioner Maj Gen Fred Kekana told SABC, “They entered the tavern and randomly shot at the patrons, unprovoked.” Three victims died inside the bar, and others were shot while trying to escape. Kekana added, “It’s also reported that after they shot the people, they searched them. They took their valuables, including cell phones.” Among the dead was a driver from an online car-hailing service passing by. Police described the attack as “pure criminality” and have launched a manhunt for the suspects, seeking public help. This shooting follows a December 6 attack near Pretoria where gunmen killed 12, including a three-year-old child. South Africa struggles with high crime, gang violence, and widespread firearms. Recent high-profile killings, including a former radio presenter and a corruption inquiry witness, have shocked the nation. South Africa recorded an average of 63 murders daily from April to September 2024. One of the worst recent mass shootings was in September 2024 when 18 family members were killed in the Eastern Cape during a traditional ceremony. Several suspects have been arrested there.