Gunmen opened fire on people sitting in a tavern in South Africa’s biggest township of Soweto in the early hours of Sunday, killing 14 and injuring another nine, police said.

This is coming just two weeks after the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy, a shebeen in East London, Eastern Cape, where 21 people died on 26 June.

The Police in a statement isdued shortly after midnight at Nomzamo Park tavern said, “A group of men armed with rifles and 9mm pistols entered the tavern and started shooting randomly at the patrons who were sitting inside”, adding that a hunt was on to find the perpetrators.

Orlando police station commander Brigadier Nonhlanhla Kubeka said investigations are still taking place at the scene and more information will be released soon.

“What I can say is the assailants came into the tavern they found those people, they were enjoying themselves unprovoked and they start shooting off them using the rifles…and thus far the investigation is still continuing.

“12 people died on the scene and another one died on arrival at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital and the 14th one also died after admission”, said provincial Police Commissioner, Elias Mawela, adding that the victims were between the ages of 19 and 35.

Mawela said the motive for the shooting is unknown at this stage and no arrests have been made.

The police have pleaded with anyone who may have information about the shooting incident to contact their nearest police.

Four people have also been killed and another eight are in critical condition in another tavern shooting, in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala told News24 that the four were killed around 20:30 on Saturday at a tavern in Sweet Waters.