At least 27 people were killed in two separate shootings in South Africa on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, adding to the toll of mass shootings in a country struggling to control violent crime.
The shootings, which like other attacks in recent years came at bars or taverns, occurred near the country’s two most populous cities, Johannesburg and Cape Town, in township communities that face socioeconomic challenges.
At about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, eight gunmen stormed a tavern in Wedela, a township west of Johannesburg, and opened fire on patrons drinking inside and outside, killing 17 people and wounding 15 others, according to the police. The assailants fired AK-47 rifles and handguns, the police said, adding that a manhunt was underway.
Hours later, shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, gunmen killed 10 patrons at a barbecue restaurant in Lwandle, a township in Cape Town. The police said they were searching for the killers.
The police said they were still determining motive in both mass shootings.
South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates. Organized crime and a rise in firearms have helped fuel the violence.
President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed more than 2,000 soldiers this year to support crime-fighting activities in some of the country’s most dangerous hot spots.
Speaking near the site of the shooting in Wedela, Panyaza Lesufi, the premier of Gauteng Province, said he had spoken to community members in the aftermath and that the government needed to do more to address their safety concerns.
“We still need lots and lots of capacity to deal with these issues,” he said.
The police had already gathered promising evidence in the investigation, Mr. Lesufi said.
“You are not alone,” Mr. Lesufi said when outlining his message to community members. “We are with you. We understand the fear. We understand the anxiety.”
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