Up to 28 dead in two shootings in South Africa

According to the South African police, the victim is referring to the first attack that took place in Wedela, southwestern Johannesburg, where 17 people died on Saturday night and several others were injured.

“ Another victim died in the hospital, raising the total number of deaths [in this attack] to 18”, said the police.

On Saturday night, men armed with assault rifles and pistols broke into a bar and opened fire on their clients.

In another episode, 10 people were killed and 11 were injured in a shop shooting in Lwandle, near Cape Town.

Among the dead in Wedela, two were South Africans and two were citizens of Lesotho, these being the only victims whose identities have been confirmed so far.

“ All injured victims in the hospital have been identified,” the South African authorities said, adding that five were “punched in the upper body and are in critical condition, while the others are stable.”.

A team of detectives and members of the South African Defense Force is investigating the case.

The two shootings take place days after another episode of violence at a party near the coastal town of Durban killing 11 people, including a pregnant woman.

So far there have been no arrests and the police are still looking for suspects in both attacks.

South Africa has been struggling for years with violent crime, but Saturday night shootings have shocked a country already used to some of the world's highest homicide rates.