South African authorities have raised the combined death toll from two separate mass shootings over the weekend to 28, after another victim from the attack in Wedela, west of Johannesburg, died in hospital on Monday.
The two shootings occurred within hours of each other in Gauteng and the Western Cape, leaving dozens of people dead or wounded. Police are still searching for the attackers, and no arrests had been announced as of September 28.
18 Killed in Wedela.
The first attack took place late Saturday at a tavern in Wedela township, approximately 80 kilometres west of Johannesburg.
Police said armed attackers opened fire on patrons outside the tavern before entering the premises and continuing the shooting. The suspects were reportedly carrying AK-47 rifles and pistols.
The death toll initially stood at 17 but increased to 18 on Monday after another victim died in hospital. Police said 18 others were injured, with some of those wounded requiring hospital treatment.
Police have established a multidisciplinary investigation team and are pursuing several lines of inquiry. One possibility being investigated is a dispute connected to illegal mining activity in the area, although authorities have not established a final motive.
10 Die in Lwandle.
Several hours after the Wedela attack, another shooting occurred at an entertainment venue in Lwandle, near Cape Town.
Ten people were killed and 11 others wounded after gunmen opened fire at the venue. Police are searching for multiple suspects, but the exact number of attackers had not been established publicly.
The incident has added to growing concern about a series of mass shootings in South Africa in recent days.
Police Intensify Investigations.
South African authorities are treating the attacks as separate investigations, while trying to establish who carried them out and what motivated the violence.
In Wedela, police said investigators had obtained clear images of some of the suspected attackers. Authorities are also examining whether the shooting was connected to organised criminal activity in an area where illegal gold mining has generated conflict between competing groups.
The Lwandle investigation is being handled by detectives from the South African Police Service, with additional security measures introduced in the area following the attack.
Violence Comes After Another Mass Shooting.
The latest attacks came only days after another mass shooting near Durban killed 11 people, including a pregnant woman. That incident, together with the two latest shootings, has intensified scrutiny of South Africa’s struggle with organised crime and illegal firearms.
The latest confirmed toll of 28 relates specifically to the Wedela and Lwandle attacks. Other shootings reported elsewhere in South Africa during the same period are separate incidents and should not automatically be added to that figure.
For now, investigators face two immediate tasks: identifying and arresting those responsible and establishing whether the attacks were connected to wider criminal networks. The absence of arrests means several aspects of both investigations remain unresolved.
Freshness check: The death toll was updated on September 28, 2026, after the Wedela victim died in hospital. Reuters and the Associated Press independently reported the increase to 28.
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