<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) —</strong> Eight gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols opened fire at patrons at a bar in the first of two separate mass shootings in South African townships within a few hours, resulting in at least 27 fatalities, according to police reports on Sunday.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The first incident occurred late Saturday night near Johannesburg, followed by a second shooting in the early hours of Sunday near Cape Town. No arrests have been made in connection with the two shootings, which took place just five days after another mass shooting in a township near Durban that left at least 11 people dead.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The South African Police Service reported that 17 individuals were killed Saturday night when eight suspects opened fire at a bar in Wedela township, located southwest of Johannesburg, around 9:30 p.m. The gunmen targeted patrons outside the bar before entering to continue shooting. The victims included 13 men and four women, with at least 15 others sustaining gunshot injuries. Police stated that the gunmen searched some patrons and stole their mobile phones before fleeing in two vehicles.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Approximately four hours later, another mass shooting occurred at a store in Lwandle township near Cape Town, resulting in 10 deaths and 11 injuries after 1 a.m. Police are currently searching for multiple suspects but have not specified the exact number.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On Tuesday night, 11 people were killed, including a pregnant woman, during an attack by multiple gunmen at a house party in KwaMakhutha township south of Durban. Police have not reported any arrests related to this incident either.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">South Africa has faced high rates of violent crime for years, but the recent series of mass shootings has shocked even those accustomed to the country's significant homicide rates. Experts note that while killings are a persistent issue in Africa's most advanced economy, mass shootings are becoming increasingly common, often involving multiple assailants.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These homicides predominantly affect South Africa's poorer communities, with police linking some incidents to criminal gangs. Recent mass shootings include one in June in a low-income neighborhood of Johannesburg that resulted in 12 deaths, and two shootings in December that collectively left 21 people dead.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In response to the violent crime issue, President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed soldiers to the streets in March as part of a yearlong initiative aimed at combating crime in some of the country's most affected areas, including high-crime zones around Johannesburg and Cape Town.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">During the announcement of this deployment, Ramaphosa stated that organized gang crime poses the greatest threat to South Africa's democracy and economic development. Some critics have interpreted the use of soldiers as an indication of police inadequacy.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to official police statistics, there were 5,427 homicides in South Africa during the latest three-month period from April to June, averaging nearly 60 homicides per day. Shootings are the most prevalent form of homicide in the country, and police and crime experts have long cited the high number of illegal firearms in circulation as a significant problem.</p>