South Africa launches crackdown on mass shootings

South African police have launched multiple manhunts after three separate mass shootings left at least 32 people dead and dozens injured.

Police say gunmen killed 18 people at a tavern near Johannesburg, while 10 others were shot dead at an entertainment venue near Cape Town. Another four people were killed in a separate shooting in a Cape Town township.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shootings, including possible retaliation and business rivalry as suspected motives.

Official statistics show that South Africa recorded 5,427 murders between April and June 2026, an average of nearly 60 killings a day.

Meanwhile,President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged stronger action against violent crime as pressure grows on authorities to address the country’s high murder rate.