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Police said on Sunday that seven people were shot dead southwest of Johannesburg before the suspect turned the gun on himself. This is the latest in a series of mass shootings that have shocked South Africa.
A family of five, including a 3-year-old boy, were killed in Mokokotlong, more than 40 kilometers (24 miles) southwest of Johannesburg, early Sunday morning, police said. A neighbor and a friend of the family were also killed.
Police said in a statement that the shooting occurred after the man went to a local tavern, found it closed, got into an argument with the tavern owner, and the owner followed him home.
Authorities said the tavern owner entered the man’s home and “fired at the family” who had gathered to celebrate the dowry ceremony.
“The suspect then drove back to his home, where he allegedly fired shots. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” police said in a statement.
Four people survived the shooting, including a 1-year-old boy and another person who were rushed to the hospital.
South Africa has one of the highest peacetime per capita homicide rates in the world.
Last month, unknown gunmen shot dead seven members of a family, including three children, near the country’s east coast.
In another incident, 18 relatives were shot dead on a rural farm in the Eastern Cape province.
According to police statistics released in August, nearly 6,200 people were killed in the country between April and June.
Zam/Yad
