At least 28 people have been killed in two separate mass shootings in South Africa within hours of each other, in the latest deadly flare-up of gun violence in the country.
The first attack happened on Saturday, September 26, near Johannesburg, where eight armed assailants opened fire on patrons at a local bar.
According to the BBC, the attackers shot at people inside and outside the establishment before setting two vehicles on fire and fleeing the scene.
Eighteen people were killed and 14 others injured.
Authorities said most of the victims were South African, while nationals from Lesotho and Ethiopia were also caught in the attack.
Police are investigating possible links to armed robbery and ongoing violence between gangs involved in illegal mining. Reports have also suggested the shooting could have been a revenge attack linked to another shooting last month.
The second attack occurred on Sunday, September 27, outside an entertainment venue in a township near Cape Town.
Five people were killed at the scene, while another five died later in hospital from their injuries. Eleven others were wounded in the shooting.
No arrests had been made in connection with either attack at the time of reporting.
The shootings come amid a series of deadly incidents that have renewed concerns over gun violence in South Africa. In Durban, 11 people were recently killed in a residential shooting, while police in Ekurhuleni are investigating a possible serial killing after the discovery of the body of a 10th woman.
South Africa has one of the world’s highest levels of violent crime, with official figures recording thousands of murders each year. The country has a population of about 62 million.
Gang violence linked to illicit mining and the narcotics trade has also remained a major security concern, prompting authorities to increase police operations and deploy military personnel alongside officers in some high-crime areas.