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World / Africa

Shooting in South African township leaves 7 dead

Published: 17 Jan 2026 - 12:47 pm | Last Updated: 17 Jan 2026 - 12:48 pm

AFP

Cape Town: Gunmen killed seven people in a township outside the South African city of Cape Town early on Saturday in an incident believed to be extortion-related, police said.

The attack is the latest in a string of mass shootings that have shaken the crime-weary country of 63 million people.

"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.

Three people were also wounded in the attack, which occurred shortly after midnight and was "believed to be linked to extortion in the area", it said.

"The suspects fled the scene and no arrests have been made," police said, adding that a manhunt had been launched and investigations were ongoing.

South Africa, the continent's most industrialised nation, is grappling with entrenched crime and corruption driven by organised networks.