Nine people were killed and at least ten others wounded when gunmen opened fire at a tavern outside Johannesburg early on Sunday, police said. It was the second deadly bar shooting reported in South Africa this month.

The attack happened shortly before 1:00 am at a tavern in the impoverished Bekkersdal township, a gold-mining area about 40 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg. Police initially reported ten deaths but later revised the toll to nine.

Deputy provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana said most of the attackers were armed with pistols while one carried an AK-47 rifle.

“They entered the tavern and randomly shot at patrons without any provocation,” Kekana told SABC from the scene.

Three people were killed inside the bar, with others shot as they tried to flee. The attackers continued firing as they left, he said. After the shooting, the gunmen reportedly searched victims and stole valuables including mobile phones.

Among those killed was a driver working for an online ride-hailing service who was passing the area at the time.

“This is pure criminality,” Kekana said, adding that police had launched a manhunt and were appealing to the public for information.

The shooting follows a similar attack near Pretoria on December 6, when gunmen killed twelve people at a tavern, including a three-year-old child.