South Africa serial shootings: 27 killed and 26 injured in Johannesburg and Cape Town

(Central News Agency, Johannesburg, comprehensive foreign news report on the 27th) Shootings in South Africa are common. Police said today that eight gangsters armed with assault rifles opened fire in a bar west of Johannesburg last night, killing 17 and injuring 15. A shooting also occurred in the suburbs of Cape Town early this morning, leaving 10 dead and 11 injured.

Agence France-Presse reported that according to police, the incident west of Johannesburg occurred at around 9:30 local time last night (19:30 GMT).

The police said that the gangsters allegedly searched some customers and stole their mobile phones before fleeing the scene in two unidentified vehicles. The dead included 13 men and 4 women. The motive for the crime is still unclear. The suspect set fire to two vehicles before escaping.

"The police have mobilized investigation teams and other professional units to pursue the case," the police said.

In addition, a shooting occurred at an entertainment venue in a town on the outskirts of Cape Town early this morning, killing 10 people and injuring 11 others.

South Africa is awash with both legal and illegal guns, and shootings are common, often involving gang wars or competition among informal business activities.

South Africa, with a population of about 62 million, has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with about 60 people killed every day.

In March this year, the military stationed in many violent hotspots in Johannesburg to assist the police in combating crime. President Cyril Ramaphosa has described rampant crime as one of the biggest threats facing South Africa.