The massacre occurred a little after midnight on Sunday in Johannesburg’s Soweto township and the mass shooting resulted in the deaths of 15 people and left 10 with injuries.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the police are currently investigating claims that the suspects of the crime are a group of men. Reports suggest that the shooters arrived at the tavern in a minibus taxi and open-fired at the patrons with no apparent motive.
Those deemed to be in critical condition were taken to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for further treatment. According to preliminary reports, all the deceased fall in the age range of 19 to 35. The sheer number of cartridges found on the scene of the shooting provides evidence for claims that the shooting was conducted by a group of people, says Gauteng province police commissioner Lt. Gen. Elias Mawela.
While the motive, the target and other such details are not yet determined, it is certain that a high caliber firearm was used for the shooting, declares Mawela. Rifles and a 9 mm pistol, specifies national police spokeswoman Col. Dimakatso Sello.
Tragically, this is not the only tavern mass shooting that South Africa was a victim of. Just the night before, four people were shot dead while eight were left injured when two unknown gunmen open-fired at patrons of a tavern in the Sweetwaters township in the coastal city of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The eight injured are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital. The police have stated that the deceased victims were ranging from the ages of 30 to 45, and the search for the suspects is ongoing.
These horrific shootings come mere weeks after a similar tragedy that shook the South African nation wherein 21 teenagers were found dead in a tavern in the city of East London. While the cause of those deaths is not yet revealed by the concerned authorities, officials have ruled out shooting or stampede as causes of their death.
