Seven people were shot and killed southwest of Johannesburg before the alleged shooter took his own life, police reported on Sunday.
This tragic incident adds to a series of mass shootings that have left South Africa reeling.
The attack took place in Mokokotlong, over 40 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Among the victims were five family members, including a three-year-old boy. A neighbor and a family friend also lost their lives in the violence.
Police stated that the incident began when a man visited a local tavern but found it closed.
An altercation reportedly ensued between the man and the tavern owner, who subsequently followed him home.
The authorities said that the tavern owner entered the man’s home and “opened fire at the family members,” who were gathered for a dowry celebration.
Following the shooting, the suspect returned to his home, where he allegedly shot himself.
The suspect was transported to a hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Police confirmed that four people survived the shooting, including a one-year-old boy who was rushed to the hospital along with another survivor.
South Africa has one of the highest per capita homicide rates in the world, making such incidents tragically common.
Last month, unknown gunmen killed seven members of the same family, including three children, near the country’s east coast.
In a separate attack, 18 relatives were gunned down at a rural homestead in the Eastern Cape Province.
Between April and June, nearly 6,200 people were murdered in South Africa, according to police figures released in August.
