Manhunt Underway as Nine Killed in South African Pub Shooting, Political Party Calls for Task Force
Nine people died and ten were wounded in a South African pub shooting in Bekkersdal. Police are searching for multiple gunmen; the motive remains unknown.
Overview
Multiple unknown gunmen attacked a pub in Bekkersdal, 46 kilometers west of Johannesburg, just before 1 a.m., resulting in nine fatalities and ten injuries.
The assailants, traveling in vehicles, opened fire on patrons both inside and outside the establishment before fleeing, with an e-hailing driver among the victims.
Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations have launched an intensive manhunt for the suspects, though the motive behind the deadly mass shooting remains unknown.
This incident follows other recent mass shootings at bars in South Africa, including one earlier this month that caused at least 12 deaths and 13 injuries.
The Democratic Alliance has called for a special task force to investigate this and another recent shooting in the province, highlighting concerns over rising violence.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the South African pub shooting with a neutral, fact-based approach. They prioritize reporting the immediate details of the incident, including casualties and police response, while providing broader context on South Africa's high homicide rates and previous mass shootings. The reporting avoids loaded language and presents information objectively.
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FAQ
Around 1 a.m. on December 21, 2025, about 12 gunmen in a white mini-bus (kombi) and silver sedan opened fire on patrons inside and outside KwaNoxolo tavern in Bekkersdal, 46 km west of Johannesburg, killing 9 and wounding 10 before fleeing.
Police found an AK47 and pistol cartridges at the crime scene in Bekkersdal.
Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations has launched a manhunt for the suspects, with necessary resources allocated, but the motive remains unknown.
This follows a mass shooting on December 6 near Pretoria killing 12 including a 3-year-old, and other bar shootings like one in Soweto in 2022 killing 16.
The Democratic Alliance called for a special task force to investigate this and another recent shooting in Gauteng province amid rising violence concerns.
History
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