Eight Killed in Mass Shooting at Durban Tavern, Police Launch Manhunt

South African police have launched a manhunt after eight people were gunned down inside a tavern in Umlazi township, near the southeastern city of Durban, on Friday night.

The attackers, whose identities remain unknown, stormed the bar and opened fire on customers in what police described as a brutal and calculated act of violence. Responding officers discovered the victims “lying in a pool of blood with multiple gunshot wounds,” according to an official police statement. Two of the dead were women, and the victims ranged in age from 22 to 40.

Authorities say the motive behind the attack is still under investigation.

Mass shootings are a grim and frequent reality in South Africa, where high levels of violent crime are often linked to gang activity, widespread gun ownership, and the proliferation of illegal firearms. Despite many citizens possessing licensed weapons for self-defense, the presence of unregistered guns remains a serious problem.

Official statistics show South Africa records approximately 75 murders per day. Between October and December 2024 alone, nearly 7,000 people were murdered nationwide.

The country has witnessed several recent tragedies, including the execution-style killing of seven family members, including three children, in September 2024. In April 2024, professional footballer Luke Fleurs was shot dead at a gas station, and in a separate incident, American missionary Pastor Josh Sullivan was abducted during a sermon and later rescued by police in a deadly shootout.

As investigations continue, police have appealed to the public for any information that could help identify the perpetrators of Friday night’s attack in Umlazi.