A brutal gun attack at a licensed tavern in Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, left 9 people dead and 10 others wounded early Sunday morning. About a dozen assailants, armed with pistols and an AK-47-style assault rifle, stormed the KwaNoxolo tavern around 1 a.m., firing indiscriminately at patrons and robbing victims of valuables like cellphones.

The attackers fled in a white minibus and silver sedan, leaving behind a scene of chaos and bloodshed. Three people were killed inside, while six others, including a ride-hailing driver, were gunned down outside. Police Commissioner Fred Kekana condemned the "chilling act of violence," highlighting South Africa's ongoing struggle with gun crime.

This incident marks the second mass shooting in South Africa this month, with 12 people, including a three-year-old, killed near Pretoria in a similar attack. The country averages 60 homicides daily, with lax firearm controls and economic disparities contributing to the violence.