As many as nine people have been killed and 10 others injured in a mass shooting incident that unfolded in Bekkersdal Township, west of Johannesburg, early Sunday, police said.
The shooting incident took place around 1 am (23:00 GMT).
Officials have launched a manhunt to nab the accused, while they investigate at least 10 suspects, they said.
Gauteng Acting Police Commissioner Fred Kekana told reporters that “nine suspects had pistols and one had an AK-47 rifle.”
He said that they are collecting testimonies from survivors, although the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
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The township where the shooting took place is a densely populated community that has seen elevated levels of poverty and unemployment and a history filled with similar violent episodes, including the one that took place during the May 7, 2014, elections.
South Africa, with a population of 63 million, has the highest crime rate in the world, with several of its cities ranking among the most dangerous in the world for homicides.
Previously, an armed man killed 12 people, including a three-year-old boy, in a mass shooting at a bar near the city of Pretoria.
South Africa continues to grapple with elevated levels of violent crime, including frequent mass shootings often linked to gang conflicts or tavern disputes.
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