(ANSA) - ROME, JULY 10 - The death toll from two shootings that took place last night around midnight in South Africa has risen to 19.
In Soweto, near Johannesburg, 15 young men, including two women, were killed by several assailants who fired large-caliber weapons in a bar against the "fun-loving" crowd.
The victims were aged between 19 and 35 years.
In Pietermaritzburg (Eastern Zulu region), four people were killed by men who opened fire indiscriminately.
Investigators are also focusing on similar modus operandi, even if the shootings are common in South Africa, one of the most violent countries in the world, where gangs and alcoholism are rampant.
"We cannot allow violent criminals to terrorize in this way," President CyrilRamaphosa said in a statement.
These violent deaths are "unacceptable and disturbing", he added, offering his condolences to the families.
In Soweto, southwest of the South African capital, police were called shortly after midnight.
"When we arrived, we found 12 people dead, with gunshot wounds," Nonhlanhla Kubheka, a local police officer, told AFP.
A dozen injured were taken to hospital and three died shortly after arrival, he said.
The victims are young, between the ages of 19 and 35.
The exact number of attackers is not yet known.
But "they went in and shot people who were having a good time," Kubheka said.
"According to witnesses, they fired at random" before leaving in a white van, regional police chief Elias Mawela said.
(HANDLE).
