Police in South Africa have arrested eleven suspects in connection with a deadly mass shooting at a tavern in Bekkersdal, near Johannesburg, that left at least nine people dead and ten wounded on Sunday.
Authorities announced on Wednesday that nine of the suspects are from Lesotho, one is from Mozambique, and another is a South African mineworker.
The arrests were made after police and mine security raided two houses, where they found several unlicensed firearms, including an AK-47 rifle and handguns.
The attack occurred early Sunday morning when about twelve gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire on patrons, continuing to shoot as people fled the scene.
Initially described as “unprovoked,” preliminary investigations now point to a motive linked to turf wars over illegal mining, a notorious issue in the townships west of Johannesburg.
In addition to the arrests of the shooting suspects, the owner of the tavern has also been charged with operating an illegal liquor outlet.
This incident highlights the ongoing gun violence in South Africa, where taverns have frequently become the sites of mass shootings in recent years.
