JOHANNESBURG, Dec 21: At least nine people were killed and 10 others injured after armed men opened fire at a tavern in a township near Johannesburg, South Africa, police said.

In a statement issued on Sunday, police confirmed that a manhunt has been launched for the suspects involved in the attack, which occurred in the Bekkersdal township shortly before 1:00 a.m. local time (11:00 p.m. GMT on Saturday).

According to police, approximately 12 unidentified suspects arrived at the scene in a white kombi minibus and a silver sedan. The assailants opened fire on patrons inside the licensed tavern and continued shooting indiscriminately as they fled.

South Africa’s public broadcaster, SABC, reported that the attackers also targeted people in the street outside the establishment.

Gauteng Acting Police Commissioner Fred Kekana told SABC that investigators were still collecting witness statements and that several specialised units had been deployed to the scene. These include the provincial crime scene management team, the local criminal record centre, the serious and violent crime investigation unit, crime intelligence officers, and provincial detectives.

Kekana added that among those killed was a driver working for a ride-hailing service who was outside the tavern at the time of the attack. The motive for the shooting remains unclear.

While some initial media reports cited 10 fatalities, authorities later confirmed that the death toll stands at nine. All injured victims were taken to the hospital for treatment.

The incident comes just weeks after gunmen killed 12 people, including a three-year-old child, in a shooting at an unlicensed tavern in the Saulsville township near Pretoria.

South Africa continues to struggle with high levels of gun violence, often linked to criminal activity and rivalry among informal businesses.