27 Killed in Two South Africa Mass Shootings as Police Hunt Gunmen

At least 27 people have been killed in two separate mass shootings in South Africa, with police launching manhunts for the gunmen responsible for attacks near Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The two shootings happened within hours of each other between Saturday night and early Sunday, adding to growing concern over a recent series of deadly attacks in the country.
The first shooting took place at a tavern in Wedela township, about 80 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg.
According to South African police, eight armed men arrived at the venue at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and opened fire on people gathered outside before entering the tavern and continuing to shoot.
Police said the attackers were armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols.
Seventeen people — 13 men and four women — were killed, while another 15 people suffered gunshot wounds and were taken for medical treatment.
Authorities said some patrons were searched and had their mobile phones taken before the attackers escaped in two unidentified vehicles. Two vehicles were also set alight during the incident.
No arrests had been announced in connection with the Wedela attack as of Sunday, and investigators were continuing to search for the eight suspects.
A second deadly shooting occurred several hours later in Lwandle township, near Cape Town.
Gunmen opened fire at an entertainment venue in the early hours of Sunday morning, killing 10 people and injuring another 11.
Five victims were declared dead at the scene, while five others died after being taken for medical treatment.
Police launched another search for those responsible, although authorities had not publicly confirmed the exact number of suspects involved in the Lwandle attack.
The motives behind the shootings have not been formally established.
Later reporting from Reuters said investigators were examining several possibilities. Initial inquiries suggested one of the attacks could be connected to a dispute involving illegal mining, while a business rivalry was being considered as a possible factor in the other case. These remain lines of investigation rather than confirmed motives.
The two shootings came only days after another deadly attack near Durban.
Earlier in the week, gunmen opened fire at a house party in KwaMakhutha township, south of Durban, killing 11 people, including a pregnant woman.
The latest violence has again drawn attention to South Africa's long-running struggle with violent crime and illegal firearms.
Police and specialised investigative units have been deployed to identify and arrest those responsible for the latest attacks.
For communities affected by the shootings, however, the immediate focus remains on the victims, those recovering from their injuries and the search for answers about why so many people were targeted within just a few hours.
Investigations into both shootings remain ongoing.