DEADLY TAVERN SHOOTING ROCKS BEKKERSDAL

Police launch massive manhunt after heavily armed group terrorises community

- THOBEKA NGEMA

WITNESSES detailed how patrons scrambled for safety when 12 gunmen, some of them wearing balaclavas, brutally opened fire at a tavern in Bekkersdal informal settlement, west of Johannesburg, killing nine and injuring 10 others.

"Out of the blue, unprovoked, they attacked, randomly shot people. Some of the people tried to run away," Gauteng Deputy Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana said.

"Two of them tried to get into the Golf that was taken by the police truck; they were also shot and killed. Inside the tavern, three were shot and killed. Ten were seriously injured through gunshot wounds, and others tried to run away. Three were shot until they managed to reach the clinic. At the clinic, three unfortunately succumbed to the injuries.

"Just on the same route down, the same criminals proceeded, met a Bolt driver, shot him, unprovoked, and disappeared."

Kekana said the suspects were reportedly armed with pistols and an AK-47 rifle.