The death toll from a deadly mass shooting at a township pub in South Africa has risen to 10, police confirmed on Tuesday, as investigators identified two possible suspects linked to the attack.
The shooting occurred in the early hours of Sunday at a tavern in Bekkersdal, about 46 kilometres west of Johannesburg. According to authorities, three women and seven men were killed, while nine other victims are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Police said the attack happened around 1 a.m. when approximately 12 armed men arrived at the pub in two vehicles and opened fire on patrons. The assailants reportedly continued shooting indiscriminately as they fled the area.
Maj. Gen. Fred Kekana, the acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, disclosed that two individuals have been identified as potential suspects following information provided by members of the community.
Meanwhile, a Gauteng police spokesperson confirmed that the owner of the tavern will face charges for fraud and operating an illegal liquor business. All alcoholic beverages found at the premises have since been confiscated.
The incident marks the second mass shooting at a township tavern in South Africa within three weeks. Earlier in December, gunmen attacked an unlicensed bar near Pretoria, killing at least 12 people, including three children. A 32-year-old suspect has since been arrested in connection with that earlier attack.
