WEDELA, South Africa — Seventeen people were killed and 15 others wounded after a group of gunmen opened fire at a tavern in Wedela, Gauteng, on Saturday night, triggering a major police manhunt for eight unidentified suspects.
[BREAKING NEWS] Multiple people have been killed and several wounded in a mass shooting at a tavern in Carletonville, Gauteng. pic.twitter.com/5nOtiF2wgg
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 27, 2026
At least 27 people have now been killed in two separate mass shootings in South Africa. Hours after the Wedela tavern attack left 17 people dead and 15 wounded, another shooting at an entertainment venue in Lwandle, near Cape Town, killed 10 people and injured 11 others.
Police said gunmen entered the Lwandle venue at about 1:46 a.m. on Sunday and opened fire on patrons. Five victims died at the scene and another five later died from their injuries. Eleven wounded people were receiving medical treatment.
No arrests have been announced in either attack. Police are conducting separate manhunts and have not established a motive for the Wedela shooting. Authorities have also not announced that the Wedela and Lwandle attacks are connected.
The attack happened at approximately 9:30 p.m. on September 26, 2026, at a tavern in Extension 3, Wedela, in the West Rand District. Gauteng police said patrons were drinking inside and outside the establishment when the attackers arrived.
The gunmen allegedly opened fire first on people outside before entering the tavern and continuing to shoot. Police said the suspects were reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols.
Emergency Medical Services declared 17 people — 13 males and four females — dead at the scene. Another 15 people suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to medical facilities for treatment, bringing the preliminary number of people shot to at least 32.
Gunmen allegedly took cellphones before fleeing
The violence did not end with the shooting. Police said the attackers allegedly searched some patrons and took their cellphones before leaving the area.
The suspects reportedly escaped in two unidentified motor vehicles. Police also said two other vehicles were set alight during the incident.
Investigators will now have to determine whether the cellphone thefts and burned vehicles provide clues to the motive or were secondary actions during the attack. The reported theft of phones does not, on its own, establish robbery as the reason for the shooting.
Police hunt eight suspects as specialised units join investigation
Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for eight unidentified armed men. Detectives and specialised units have been mobilised to trace the suspects and determine how the attack was planned and carried out.
Police have opened 17 counts of murder, 15 counts of attempted murder and two counts of malicious damage to property.
No arrests had been announced in the initial police information, and the motive remained unknown. Readers can follow subsequent official developments through the South African Police Service newsroom.
Motive behind Wedela shooting remains unknown
A major question for investigators is whether the tavern itself was targeted, whether particular patrons were targeted or whether the attackers fired indiscriminately.
Police have not publicly linked the shooting to gangs, illegal mining, extortion, revenge or any other specific criminal activity. Such explanations should therefore not be treated as established while investigators are still working to determine a motive.
Evidence from the scene could prove crucial. Investigators are likely to examine witness accounts, ballistic evidence, spent cartridges, vehicle information and any available surveillance footage as they attempt to identify the gunmen and reconstruct their movements.
Six Flags X2: 100+ Riders Allege Brain Injuries After Roller Coaster Rides
Greece Beach Sunbed Fight: 82-Year-Old Dies as Arrests Follow
Wedela attack adds to concerns over deadly tavern shootings
Wedela is in Gauteng’s West Rand District and is associated with the broader Carletonville area. Police identified the scene specifically as Extension 3 in Wedela.
South Africa has experienced other deadly attacks at taverns and drinking establishments. Official police crime information previously documented multiple-victim shootings in places including Saulsville and Bekkersdal, although authorities have announced no connection between those attacks and the Wedela killings.
The latest violence comes as Gauteng police continue dealing with other serious investigations. Swikblog recently reported on the discovery of a ninth woman’s body in Dawn Park on the East Rand, while another major case involved a large police operation involving seized copper in Johannesburg.
Victim identities and hospital conditions still awaited
The names of the 13 male and four female victims had not been released in the initial information. Authorities may withhold identities while relatives are formally notified.
Further information is also awaited on the conditions of the 15 people hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Other unresolved questions include the identities of the eight suspects, ownership of the getaway vehicles, the significance of the two vehicles set alight and why some victims’ phones were allegedly taken.
For the Wedela community, the immediate focus is now on the wounded, the families of those killed and the search for those responsible. Police have urged the investigation forward while warning that the motive has not yet been established.
As of the latest police information, no arrests had been announced. The manhunt and investigation remain ongoing, and casualty, hospital and suspect information may be updated as authorities release further details.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
