Eleven suspects have been arrested in connection with a mass shooting that left nine people dead at a tavern in South Africa on Sunday.
Police launched a manhunt for the 12 unidentified gunmen who had opened fire at patrons at around 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT Saturday) in the Bekkersdal establishment, near Johannesburg.
On Wednesday, provincial deputy commissioner of police, Major General Fred Kekana, reported that nine of the arrested suspects are Lesotho nationals, while one hails from Mozambique. Another suspect, believed to be a South African mineworker, was also detained.
Murders in South Africa, which has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, are often fueled by arguments, robberies, and gang violence.
While the attack initially appeared unprovoked, preliminary investigations now suggest a possible motive linked to illegal mining turf wars.
The gunmen reportedly continued shooting as patrons fled the tavern, resulting in the deaths of two individuals alongside a taxi driver who had just dropped off a passenger.
Following the arrests, police discovered several unlicensed firearms, including an AK-47 rifle, in the suspects' possession.
Statistics indicate that there are around 3 million legally held firearms in South Africa, with at least as many unlicensed weapons in circulation, according to Gideon Joubert from the South African Gunowners' Association.
Though mass shootings have seen a decline in 2025, incidents resulting in four or more casualties have notably surged since 2020, according to Claire Taylor, a researcher at Gun Free South Africa.
Taverns and illegal drinking spots, known locally as shebeens, are common sites for such violent outbreaks.
The Sunday shooting follows closely on the heels of another incident at the Saulsville Hostel in Pretoria, where eleven people, including a three-year-old child, were killed.
