South African police have launched a manhunt after two separate shootings killed 27 people and injured at least 26 others within hours in Gauteng and the Western Cape provinces.
In Wedela township, about 80 kilometres from Johannesburg, gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols opened fire at a tavern on Saturday night, killing 17 people and injuring 15. Police said the attackers fled in two vehicles, while two other vehicles were later found burned.
A second attack occurred early Sunday in Lwandle, near Cape Town, where gunmen opened fire at a venue selling grilled meat. Ten people were killed and 11 others injured, according to police.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday, while investigators worked to establish the motives behind both attacks. Authorities said initial inquiries suggested the Wedela shooting could be linked to a turf dispute involving illegal mining, while the Cape Town attack may have been connected to a business rivalry.
The shootings come days after another attack near Durban killed 11 people, adding to concerns over organised crime and illegal firearms in South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said security forces would intensify efforts to bring down violent crime as police continued searching for the perpetrators.
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