Seven people were killed and three others wounded in a suspected extortion-linked mass shooting in Marikana near Cape Town, with police launching a manhunt for the gunmen
At least seven people were shot dead early Saturday in Marikana, a township outside Cape Town, after gunmen opened fire in what police believe is an extortion-related attack.
Police said the victims included one woman and six men aged 30 to 50. Three others were wounded in the shooting, which happened shortly after midnight.
“Police are investigating a shooting incident in Marikana that claimed the lives of seven people – one woman and six men aged between 30 and 50,” police said in a statement.
Suspects on the run
According to police, the suspects fled the scene following the attack, and no arrests have been made so far. A manhunt has been launched, and investigations are continuing.
The shooting was “believed to be linked to extortion in the area”, police said.
Crime concerns across the country
The incident is the latest in a series of mass shootings that have unsettled South Africa, a country of 63 million people that has long struggled with high crime levels.
South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised nation, continues to grapple with entrenched crime and corruption driven by organised networks.
Police data show that, on average, around 63 people were killed each day between July and September last year.
In December, two separate mass shootings saw gunmen storm a hostel and a bar, leaving two dozen people dead, including several children.
Saturday’s attack took place in the Cape Flats area of Cape Town, which is known for gang violence. More than 2,000 murders were recorded in the area during the first nine months of 2025.
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