News24 | West Rand tavern horror: At least 17 people killed, 15 injured in Gauteng mass shooting

Police are on the hunt for eight gunmen after 17 people were killed in a Gauteng tavern on Saturday night.

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• Wielding AK-47 assault rifles, eight gunmen stormed a tavern on the West Rand on Saturday night, killing 17 patrons and injuring 15 more before torching two vehicles and fleeing.
• The attackers opened fire and then robbed patrons of their cellphones, and set the cars alight before escaping in two vehicles.
• No arrests have been made, and the motive remains unknown.

Police are on the hunt for eight AK-47-wielding gunmen after a tavern in Gauteng was peppered with bullets on Saturday night, leaving 17 patrons dead.

According to police, 15 people were also injured, and two vehicles were set alight during the incident in Extension 3, Wedela, West Rand District.

In a statement on Sunday morning, Gauteng police spokesperson, Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, said the incident happened at around 21:30 when the men arrived at the tavern and opened fire on patrons drinking outside. They then entered the tavern and continued to shoot patrons.

Sibeko said the men were armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols.

Once they stopped their deadly shooting spree, they allegedly searched some of the patrons, taking their cellphones.

They allegedly also set two vehicles alight before fleeing the scene in two unidentified motor vehicles.

“A total of 17 people, comprising 13 males and four females, were shot and killed during the incident. Emergency Medical Services declared all 17 victims dead at the scene. Fifteen other victims sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to medical facilities for further medical treatment,” Sibeko added.

She said the motive for the shooting was still unknown, and that Gauteng police had mobilised a team of detectives and other specialised units to trace and apprehend the suspects.

Police have opened a docket for 17 counts of murder, 15 counts of attempted murder, and two counts of malicious property damage.

No arrests have been made at this stage, and investigations are ongoing.