A spree of mass shooting has left almost 40 people dead as police scramble to find a motive behind the string of deadly attacks
A series of mass shootings has left almost 40 people dead after three cities were hit by armed violence in the same week.
On Saturday night police stated at least 10 people had been killed at a popular local restaurant while another 11 had been injured. The fatal incident took place near the city of Cape Town, South Africa. On the same night another shooting occurred near Johannesburg, the country’s commercial capital.
During the shooting, 17 people were killed after a group of men attacked a pub. Police have stated the men “allegedly searched some patrons and took their cellphones before fleeing the scene in two unidentified motor vehicles. Two vehicles were also set alight during the incident.”
Police have issued a statement on the tavern shooting recounting how the suspects descended on the premises. And took belongings from numerous people at the scene.
Capt Tintswalo Sibeko has stated: “It is alleged that patrons were drinking inside and outside the tavern when the suspects arrived and opened fire on those outside.”
He added: “The suspects then entered the tavern and continued shooting at patrons inside. The suspects were reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols. They allegedly searched some patrons and took their cellphones before fleeing the scene in two unidentified motor vehicles. Two vehicles were also set alight during the incident.”
Police are yet to established a motive for the earlier attacks.
Earlier in the week on Tuesday another mass shooting broke in the coastal town of Turban. The shooting left 11 people dead including a pregnant woman and occurred at a house party. The motive of the crime is unclear. However several people at the house party were known to police due to being involved in criminal police investigations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated organised crime is “the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development.”
Speaking to local TV news channels Ramaphosa stated: “This cannot go on like this.” The South African leader added: “This is the level of criminality that we must bring down, and our security forces are now going to continue pulling out all stops.”
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world averaging 60 a day. Alongside the frighteningly high murder rate the number of mass shootings has become a national crisis