Manhunt under way after gunmen kill nine near South Africa’s Johannesburg

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesDecember 21, 2025 at 06:08 AM

AI Summary

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A manhunt is underway in South Africa after a mass shooting at a licensed tavern in Bekkersdal township near Johannesburg on Sunday, December 21, 2025. Around 1 a.m. local time, approximately a dozen gunmen in a minibus and sedan opened fire on patrons inside and outside the tavern, killing nine and wounding ten. The motive for the attack remains unknown. Police from various units, including serious crime investigators and crime intelligence, are on the scene collecting evidence and gathering statements. This incident follows a recent mass shooting at an unlicensed bar near Pretoria earlier in December, where 12 people were killed.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Pretoria 40% South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) ×250% Gauteng ×260% Fred Kekana 60% Bekkersdal 70% Johannesburg 80% South Africa ×590%

Keywords

mass shooting 90% south africa 80% gunmen 70% johannesburg 70% tavern shooting 70% bekkersdal township 60% police investigation 60% violent crime 50% crime scene 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.80

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

South Africa

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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mass shooting south africa gunmen johannesburg tavern shooting bekkersdal township police investigation violent crime crime scene

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