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Gunmen Kill 27 in Two South Africa Mass Shootings

By Drooid · Sep 27, 2026, 2:02 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Gunmen Kill 27

Police say gunmen killed 27 people in two mass shootings near Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Eight gunmen with AK-47s and pistols opened fire at a Wedela bar, killing 17 patrons.
The Wedela attack wounded 15 others.
Suspects torched two vehicles and seized cellphones before fleeing in two unidentified cars.
Around 1 a.m. Sunday, gunmen attacked a shisanyama in Lwandle, killing ten and injuring eleven.

Summary

Ramaphosa Orders Patrols

President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered soldiers to patrol Johannesburg, Cape Town and the Eastern Cape in March 2026 to curb violence.
The deployment excluded KwaZulu-Natal, the province where the recent KwaMakhutha shooting occurred.
Crime expert Yusuf Abramjee warned that South Africa’s illegal firearms stockpile fuels gang-related murders.
Analysts say rising gun violence will dominate the November municipal elections, threatening the African National Congress’s voter base.

History

Historical Context

On 16 August 2012 the South African Police Service fired on striking Lonmin miners at Marikana, killing 34 and wounding 78, the deadliest post-apartheid force use since the 1976 Soweto uprising. The clash triggered nationwide mine strikes and led President Jacob Zuma to send the army to the platinum belt. In 2024 President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed troops to Johannesburg and Cape Town, echoing the 2012 crackdown.

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Gunmen Kill 27

Police say gunmen killed 27 people in two mass shootings near Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Eight gunmen with AK-47s and pistols opened fire at a Wedela bar, killing 17 patrons.
The Wedela attack wounded 15 others.
Suspects torched two vehicles and seized cellphones before fleeing in two unidentified cars.
Around 1 a.m. Sunday, gunmen attacked a shisanyama in Lwandle, killing ten and injuring eleven.

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