What happened
At least 27 people were killed in two mass shootings in South Africa over the weekend. The first attack occurred at a tavern in Wedela, a township in Gauteng province, where 17 people were killed and 15 others were wounded. The second attack happened at a barbecue spot in Lwandle, near Somerset West outside Cape Town, where 10 people were killed and 11 others were wounded.
The attacks are believed to be linked to gang feuds and the illicit gold trade. Investigators are examining a possible turf war among illegal gold miners as a motive for one of the shootings. No arrests have been made in either case.
The violence has prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to order security forces to intensify their efforts against violent crime. Ramaphosa has previously deployed soldiers to high-crime areas in an effort to combat gangs and illegal mining.
The shootings are part of a larger trend of violent crime in South Africa, which recorded 5,427 homicides between April and June. Shootings are the most common cause of death in these crimes.
