Gunmen kill 17 at South African tavern near Johannesburg

September 27, 2026 at 12:49 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Gunmen armed with AK-47s and pistols killed 17 people and wounded 15 at a tavern in Wedela, southwest of Johannesburg, on Saturday night. Police are searching for eight suspects who fled in two vehicles after the attack. No arrests have been made.

Key Facts

The attack occurred around 21:30 local time on Saturday, September 26, at a tavern in Wedela, West Rand district, Gauteng province.
Police say 17 people were killed — 13 men and 4 women — and 15 others were wounded by gunfire.
Eight suspects armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols opened fire on patrons outside the tavern before entering and continuing to shoot.
The suspects robbed some victims of their cell phones and set two vehicles on fire before fleeing, according to police.
No arrests have been made, and police have launched a large-scale search for the eight suspects.

The Attack

The shooting began around 21:30 on Saturday evening at a tavern in Wedela, a township in the West Rand district of Gauteng province, near Carletonville. Police said the attackers, armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols, first opened fire on patrons outside the tavern, then entered and continued shooting. Emergency medical services found the bodies of 13 men and 4 women at the scene, while 15 wounded people were taken to nearby hospitals. According to police, the suspects searched some victims, took their cell phones, and set two vehicles on fire before fleeing.

Police Search

Police are searching for eight men who arrived at the tavern in the Extension 3 area of Wedela, according to local media. No arrests have been made, and a large-scale search operation is underway in the area to apprehend the suspects. The motive for the attack remains unknown, and police are continuing their investigation.

Recent Mass Shootings

The Wedela shooting came days after another mass killing in Gauteng, when gunmen opened fire on partygoers at a private home in Kwamakhuta near Durban on September 22, killing 11 people and wounding three. South African media note a series of mass shootings over the past year at taverns and residential areas, with police considering conflicts between criminal groups, extortion, and other organized crime as possible motives in some cases.