South Africa Shootings: Death Toll Rises to 18 in Tavern Massacre
The death toll from a brutal mass shooting at a tavern in Wedela, Carletonville, on Gauteng’s West Rand, has risen to 18 after another victim succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
Following the updated casualty count, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has revised the criminal charges to include 18 counts of murder, 18 counts of attempted murder, two counts of malicious damage to property, and armed robbery.
A heavily armed group of eight gunmen remains at large. The massacre occurred on the evening of Friday, 26 September 2026.
According to Gauteng Police Spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili, eight unidentified men armed with AK-47 assault rifles and pistols arrived at the Extension 3 establishment.
The gunmen immediately opened fire on patrons relaxing outside the venue before storming the interior to continue the indiscriminate shooting.
Before fleeing in two getaway vehicles, the assailants robbed surviving victims of their mobile phones and set two nearby cars on fire.
The initial attack claimed 17 lives. As of Monday morning, only four of the deceased have been formally identified—comprising two South African citizens and two Lesotho nationals.
Five of the surviving injured victims remain in critical condition with upper-body wounds, while the remaining hospitalised victims are reported to be in stable condition.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni has established a dedicated, multidisciplinary team to track down the suspects. Led by a senior brigadier from the province’s Crime Investigation Services, the task force includes seasoned homicide detectives, Crime Intelligence, and Crime Scene Investigation experts, according to state broadcaster SABC.
Additionally, Operation Prosper—which coordinates the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and specialised SAPS units like the Tactical Response Team—has intensified security operations in Wedela and surrounding areas. While the official motive remains unknown, investigators are actively hunting for the eight suspects. No arrests have been made.
