Multiple gunmen open fire at a South African pub, killing 9 and wounding 10

BEKKERSDAL, South Africa (AP) — Nine people have died and at least 10 others were wounded after a group of gunmen carried out a shooting at a South African pub during the early hours of Sunday, authorities said.

The incident occurred just before 1 a.m. in the township of Bekkersdal which is located 46 kilometers (28 miles) west of Johannesburg. It is the second mass shooting to happen in South Africa in three weeks.

About 12 unknown suspects in a white mini-bus and a silver sedan opened fire at pub patrons at KwaNoxolo tavern, in the Tambo section of Bekkersdal and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene, according to police.

“Some victims were randomly shot in the streets by unknown gunmen,” the police said of the incident that left nine people dead and 10 hospitalized.

Maj. Gen. Fred Kekana, the acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, told the AP at the scene that the gunmen, some of whom wore balaclavas, had one AK-47 rifle and several nine-millimeter pistols.

Police did not release information about the victims, but police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that an e-hailing driver was among those who were caught in the crossfire. She said the driver had just dropped off a client.

“He was shot and killed,” she told The Associated Press.

A manhunt for the suspects in the multiple gunshot event has been initiated by Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations in collaboration with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit.

There have been several mass shootings at bars — sometimes called shebeens or taverns in South Africa — in recent years, including a mass shooting carried out by multiple suspects in an unlicensed bar near the South African capital that left at least 12 people dead and 13 injured earlier this month.

Another shooting killed 16 people in the Johannesburg township of Soweto in 2022. On the same day, four people were killed in a mass shooting at a bar in another province.

With almost 26,000 homicides in 2024, or more than 70 per day on average, South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides. Although the nation of 62 million has comparatively stringent gun control laws, officials say many murders are carried out using illegal firearms.

Gumede reported from Johannesburg.

South African police gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)

South African police gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)

Onlookers gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)

South African police gather at the scene of a mass shooting where gunmen killed nine and injured at least 10 in a pub in Bekkersdal, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/ Alfonso Nqunjana)

VAL D'ISERE, France (AP) — Sofia Goggia finally got the win her fast skiing this season deserved in a World Cup super-G on Sunday and Lindsey Vonn was third for the second straight day.

The two former Olympic downhill champions were split on a high-class podium by runner-up Alice Robinson, who is already a two-time winner this season on the World Cup circuit.

Goggia finished 0.15 seconds ahead of Robinson who started before strong gusts delayed the race for 10 minutes.

The 41-year-old Vonn then hit a high speed of 115 kph (71 mph) — among the fastest on the day — but the ideal racing line was elusive and she finished 0.36 behind Goggia.

The result was unofficial with low-ranked racers yet to start.

Vonn’s back-to-back podium finish — after an impressive third in Saturday’s downhill — was the 142nd of her storied World Cup career. It resumed exactly one year ago after a five-season retirement to target the Milan Cortina Olympics that start on Feb. 6.

Vonn’s intense start to her World Cup season now reads one win, four podiums and a fourth place in five races across 10 days. The downhill win at Swiss resort St. Moritz last weekend was the 83rd of her World Cup career that started in November 2000, before the 24-year-old Robinson was born.

Vonn now takes a three-week break from racing until a Jan. 10 downhill at Altenmarkt, Austria.

Goggia has skied fast this season but her best results had been a pair of third places at St. Moritz, in downhill and a super-G won by Robinson in a tight race where Vonn was fourth.

The 33-year-old Italian’s 27th career World Cup win was her eighth in super-G.

AP Olympics coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

New Zealand's Alice Robinson speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G in Val d'Isere, France, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)

Italy's Sofia Goggia speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G in Val d'Isere, France, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)

United States' Lindsey Vonn checks her time at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G in Val d'Isere, France, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

United States' Lindsey Vonn speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G in Val d'Isere, France, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Pier Marco Tacca)

Italy's Sofia Goggia celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G in Val d'Isere, France, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)