Police Hunt for Suspects After Nine Killed in South African Tavern Attack

South African police have launched an extensive search for a group of armed men who opened fire at a township tavern west of Johannesburg, killing nine people and injuring at least ten others in the early hours of Sunday, 21 December 2025.

Sequence of the Attack

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the violence unfolded just before 1 a.m. at the KWA Noxolo tavern in Bekkersdal, a community roughly 25 miles from central Johannesburg. Witnesses told investigators that two vehicles—a white van and a silver sedan—pulled up outside the establishment. Approximately a dozen men, all believed to be armed, entered the premises and began shooting patrons with several pistols and an AK-47-style assault rifle.

Three victims were shot dead inside the tavern, police said. The gunmen then moved outside, where they continued firing. Six additional victims, including a motorist driving past the bar, were fatally struck. Emergency responders confirmed the combined death toll at nine, while ten more people sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to local hospitals for treatment.

Weapons and Suspects

Investigators recovered evidence indicating the assailants carried at least nine handguns in addition to the assault rifle. Initial accounts describe all of the suspected shooters as male. Authorities have not yet released details on the calibers used or whether any shell casings have been linked to other crimes.

SAPS officials are examining closed-circuit footage from nearby businesses and have appealed to residents for information that could identify the vehicles or the attackers. No arrests had been announced by Sunday evening.

Possible Motive and Theft Reports

While the motive remains unclear, police noted that several eyewitnesses saw the assailants search the bodies of victims and remove valuables such as mobile phones. Detectives are working to determine whether robbery was the primary objective or a secondary act following a targeted assault.

Gauteng provincial police commissioner Fred Kekana said forensic teams are processing the scene and cataloging stolen items. He added that specialists from SAPS’s organized-crime unit have joined the investigation because of the number of firearms involved and the coordinated nature of the attack.

Location Context

The KWA Noxolo tavern operates as a licensed shebeen, an informal bar common in South African townships. Bekkersdal, part of the West Rand district, grew around gold-mining operations and today comprises densely populated residential areas. Local community leaders have previously expressed concern about escalating gun violence in the region, reflecting broader national trends highlighted in annual crime statistics released by SAPS.

Ongoing Manhunt

Police checkpoints were set up along major roads linking Bekkersdal to Johannesburg and neighboring towns as officers searched for the white van and silver sedan described by witnesses. Ballistics experts will compare recovered projectiles with the national database to establish whether the weapons have been used in earlier crimes.

Imagem: Internet

SAPS spokesperson Brenda Muridili urged anyone with knowledge of the shooters’ identities or whereabouts to contact the provincial command center. She stressed that all information will be treated confidentially to protect community members who may fear retaliation.

Casualty Details

The identities of the deceased have not yet been released pending family notification. Hospitals in the West Rand confirmed that the ten injured victims are receiving care for various gunshot wounds; several remain in critical condition.

Authorities indicated that victim-support services have been activated to provide counseling and assistance to relatives. Provincial health officials also arranged additional security at medical facilities in case the perpetrators attempt to reach any surviving witnesses.

Broader Impact

The incident adds to a series of mass shootings that have unsettled South Africa in recent years. Analysts cite a proliferation of illegal firearms and organized criminal groups as key drivers behind such attacks, though police remain cautious about linking Sunday’s violence to larger syndicates until motives are confirmed.

Security patrols have been increased at taverns across the West Rand to prevent potential copycat incidents and reassure patrons during the busy holiday season. Municipal authorities said they would meet with local business owners and community representatives to discuss additional safety measures, including improved lighting and surveillance infrastructure.

As the investigation advances, SAPS has reiterated its commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice and emphasized that cooperation from residents is critical to solving the case swiftly.

Crédito da imagem: Emmanuel Croset/AFP via Getty Images