South Africa records three mass shootings in a week, killing 38

South African police reported three mass shooting incidents this week that together killed 38 people and injured many more. On Saturday night, at least 10 people were killed at a shisanyama restaurant near Cape Town, with 11 others wounded. The same evening, gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles entered a township tavern near Johannesburg, killing 17 patrons. Police said the attackers searched victims for cell phones, fled in two unidentified vehicles and set two cars on fire, but no motive was disclosed.

Earlier in the week, gunmen opened fire on a house party in Durban, killing 11 people, including a pregnant woman. Authorities have not identified a motive, though several attendees were under investigation for criminal activity. The incidents come amid a broader pattern of gun violence linked to illegal firearms and organized crime, including groups of illegal gold miners known as "zama-zamas."

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described organized crime as a major threat to the country's democracy and economy and has deployed the army to some high-crime areas. The surge in mass shootings is occurring as South Africa prepares for local elections in November, where public safety is expected to be a central issue.

"Organised crime is the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development," President Ramaphosa said.

The country, which averages about 60 murders a day, is grappling with a rise in large-scale shootings that officials say are increasingly tied to gang rivalries and illegal weapons.