Twenty-seven killed in two separate South Africa mass shootings, police searching for suspects

South African police said on Sunday they had launched a manhunt after 17 people were killed and 15 wounded in a shooting at a tavern in Wedela township southwest of Johannesburg.

Emergency medical services declared the 13 males and 4 females dead at the scene, and the motive for the shooting was not known, the South African Police Service said in a statement posted on X/Twitter.

"Suspects were reportedly armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols," the statement said of the shooting, which occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday in Gauteng province.

Fifteen other victims with gunshot wounds were transported to medical facilities, the police said.

No arrests have been made, the statement said. Suspects allegedly targeted the tavern, opening fire on customers drinking outside and then moving inside to continue shooting, the police said.