A manhunt is under way after a shooting at a tavern in South Africa left nine people dead and another 10 injured.
Police said seven men and two women were killed in Bekkersdal, near Johannesburg, after about 12 unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire at patrons.
The shooting happened at about 01:00 local time on Sunday (23:00 GMT Saturday) and the perpetrators continued to shoot randomly as [people] fled the scene, police added.
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Sixty-three people were killed every day on average between April and September this year, according to police figures.
Murders are often the result of arguments, robberies and gang violence. The motive for this attack is not clear.
At the scene, deputy provincial police commissioner Maj-Gen Fred Kekana told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the perpetrators, armed with pistols and one AK-47, were unprovoked.
The poor patrons were just enjoying themselves when people came and shot, he said.
Two of the victims were shot outside the tavern as they tried to flee and a third was a taxi driver who had dropped off a passenger nearby, Maj-Gen Kekana added.
Resident Nokuthula Bhukwana went to the tavern after she heard the shooting. When we arrived at the scene, we opened the doors and indeed scores of people were lying on the floor, she told the Reuters news agency.
Resident Nontombi Molatlhegi called for the military to be deployed to help protect local communities, citing fears of escalating violence.
There are about three million legally held firearms in South Africa, but there are at least the same number of unlicensed weapons in circulation, according to statistics.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in South Africa, especially in social spaces that have become hotspots for mass shootings.
