Ten people were killed, and nine were injured after gunmen opened fire at a tavern in Bekkersdal township, South Africa, during the early hours of Sunday, December 21, 2025. The township is located 46 kilometers west of Johannesburg.
The shooting occurred just before 1 am at KwaNoxolo Tavern in the Tambo section of Bekkersdal. About 12 suspects arrived at the scene in a white minibus and silver sedan before the gunmen opened fire at tavern patrons.
The suspects continued shooting randomly while fleeing the scene. Some victims were shot arbitrarily in the streets during the attack.
Major General Fred Kekana, acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, confirmed that some gunmen wore balaclavas during the assault. The attackers were armed with one AK-47 rifle and several 9mm pistols. An e-hailing driver was killed in the crossfire. The driver had just dropped off a client when the shooting began.
“The tavern is licensed,” police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said. However, the tavern owner was arrested on December 24, 2025, for operating with a fraudulent liquor license. According to Major General Kekana, the tavern owner had insisted her operating documents were valid, but a formal investigation by the Gauteng Liquor Board disputes this.
The attackers searched victims after shooting them and took their valuables, including phones. Three people were killed inside the bar, while others were shot while trying to flee the scene. The wounded victims were transported to the hospital for treatment. Their conditions have not been publicly disclosed as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
On December 24, 2025, authorities announced a major breakthrough in the investigation when they arrested 11 suspects in connection with the mass shooting. The group included 10 undocumented foreign nationals—nine from Lesotho and one from Mozambique—along with one South African mine worker who was arrested for harboring the illegal immigrants. Police recovered multiple firearms from the suspects, including an AK-47 rifle and several pistols, which matched the types of weapons used during the Sunday morning attack. Kekana confirmed that ballistics tests were underway to definitively link the recovered weapons to the murders.
The incident marks the second major mass shooting at a bar in Gauteng province in recent weeks. Earlier this month, a mass shooting at an unlicensed bar near Pretoria killed at least 12 people.
The Bekkersdal region is notorious for illicit mining operations. The area has become known for gang violence and illegal firearms proliferation, contributing to ongoing security challenges in the township. Bekkersdal, surrounded by abandoned mine shafts, faces unique security challenges related to illegal mining activities. These operations have created criminal networks that contribute to the availability of weapons and the occurrence of violent crimes in the region.
The Democratic Alliance called for a special task force to probe the recent shootings in the province following this latest incident.
South Africa recorded almost 26,000 homicides in 2024, averaging more than 70 homicides per day. The nation of 62 million has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Firearms are the leading cause of death in homicides across the country. Many killings are carried out using illegal firearms despite the nation having comparatively stringent gun control laws.
The violence at taverns has become a recurring pattern in South Africa in recent years. These establishments, typically unlicensed and sometimes called shebeens, have been targeted in multiple mass shooting incidents that have shocked communities and raised concerns about public safety.
Kekana described the extensive police response to the scene. “We are still busy obtaining statements. Our national crime and management team has arrived,” he said.
The investigation involves multiple specialized units working to gather evidence and track down the suspects. The provincial crime scene management team, local criminal record centre, serious crime investigating team, crime intelligence, and provincial crime detective team all deployed to the scene.
The shooting has renewed discussions about security measures at entertainment venues and the proliferation of illegal weapons in townships across Gauteng province. Community leaders and residents have expressed concern about the frequency of violent incidents in areas already struggling with economic challenges and limited law enforcement resources.
The attack occurred during a time when many South Africans were gathering at social venues during the holiday season. Taverns serve as important community spaces in townships, making them frequent targets for criminal activity.
Law enforcement officials have not released information on whether the shooting was connected to other criminal activities in the area. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to identify and apprehend those responsible for the deadly attack.