South African police have arrested 11 suspects in connection with a liquor store shooting last weekend that killed nine people. The incident is believed to be linked to a conflict over illegal mining territory.
International news agencies reported on 24 Dec 2025 that South African authorities have detained 11 individuals suspected of involvement in a shooting at a liquor store on Sunday (21 Dec), which resulted in at least nine fatalities.
Police mobilized forces to pursue a group of 12 unidentified gunmen who opened fire on customers inside an entertainment venue in the Bekkersdal area near Johannesburg at about 01:00 local time on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Brigadier Fred Kekana, Deputy Provincial Police Commissioner, revealed that among the arrested suspects, nine were from Lesotho and one from Mozambique. Another suspect, believed to be a South African mine worker, was also detained.
Murder incidents in South Africa—a country with one of the highest crime rates globally—are often caused by disputes, robberies, and gang violence.
Although the attack initially appeared to be a random shooting without motive, preliminary investigations now suggest the cause is linked to a turf war over illegal mining operations.
During the attack, the gunmen continued firing as people fled the liquor store, resulting in the death of even a taxi driver who had just dropped off a passenger nearby.
When police arrested the suspects, they found several unlicensed firearms in their possession, including AK-47 rifles.
Gideon Joubert from the South African Gun Owners Association cited statistics indicating about 3 million legally registered firearms in South Africa, with an estimated similar number of unlicensed guns.
Claire Taylor, a researcher from the advocacy group Gun Free South Africa, told the BBC that although reported shootings decreased in 2025, data since 2020 shows a significant rise in incidents causing four or more casualties.
These attacks most commonly occur in licensed pubs or illegal liquor outlets locally known as "shebeens."
The recent Sunday shooting occurred just two weeks after an attack at Saulsville Hostel in Pretoria, the capital, which left 11 dead, including a three-year-old child.
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Source:bbc