By Charmaine Ndlela
At least 27 people have been killed and 26 others injured in two separate mass shootings in Gauteng and the Western Cape in a matter of hours oveernight, as police launched manhunts for the gunmen behind the latest wave of deadly violence.
The two attacks took place at a tavern in Wedela, near Carletonville, on Saturday night and at a shisanyama in Lwandle, in the Western Cape, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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In Gauteng, 17 people were killed and 15 others wounded after eight armed men opened fire at Dora’s Tavern on Hector Peterson Street in Extension 3, Wedela, at about 9.30pm on Saturday.
According to police, patrons were drinking inside and outside the tavern when the gunmen arrived and opened fire before fleeing the scene.
Five people, four men and one woman were killed outside the tavern, while 12 people nine men and three women were killed inside.
Police have opened 17 murder cases, 15 counts of attempted murder and two cases of malicious damage to property. No arrests have been reported and the motive for the attack remains unknown.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi condemned the shooting, describing the deaths as a senseless loss of life and extending condolences to the families and communities affected.
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“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this senseless loss of life. There can be no justification for such an attack on innocent people. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and everyone affected by this horrific incident,” Lesufi said.
Hours later, another mass shooting unfolded in Lwandle in the Western Cape, where 10 people were killed and 11 others wounded.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Sizakhele Dyantyi has established a multidisciplinary team led by Serious Violent Crime detectives to investigate the attack.
In a separate statement, police said gunmen entered an entertainment venue that also sells braaied meat at about 1.46am on Sunday and opened fire on patrons.
Five people died at the scene, while another five later succumbed to their injuries after being transported to medical facilities. Eleven others are receiving medical treatment.
Lwandle police have opened murder and attempted murder cases, while detectives continue to search for the perpetrators. No arrests have been made.
The identities of the deceased will be released once their next of kin have been informed.
SAPS management has also increased deployments in the area as the search for the suspects continues.
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The two shootings come only days after another mass killing in KwaZulu-Natal, where 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were shot dead in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha, south of Durban.
Three others were wounded when three armed men allegedly entered a house where a group of people were gathered and opened fire. Police have launched a manhunt, while the motive has not yet been confirmed. Police said a feud between rival groupings could not be ruled out.
The latest incidents have once again placed South Africa’s gun violence problem under the spotlight.
The latest SAPS crime statistics recorded 5,427 murders between April and June 2026, an average of about 60 killings a day. Although murders declined by 5.9% compared with the same period in 2025, firearms remained the leading weapon used in murders.
According to the 2023/24 figures from the United Office of Drugs and Crime, South Africa alone has recorded more than 26, 000 homicide-an average of more than 70 a day, with firearms being the leading cause of death in homicides.
The concentration of firearm-related killings in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape has also remained a concern for law enforcement, with SAPS identifying firearms as a major driver of murder, robbery and organised crime.
Police investigations into both the Wedela and Lwandle shootings are continuing, with officers appealing for information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible.
