Four Killed in Shooting After South Africa Memorial

Four people have been killed and three others injured after a gunman opened fire on mourners leaving a memorial service in Katlehong, southeast of Johannesburg, police said. A child was among the injured, and the suspect is in custody.

Death Toll Rises to Four

The shooting occurred late Tuesday. Police initially reported that two men died at the scene, but the death toll rose to four after two additional victims died in hospital on Wednesday.

Authorities said the suspect turned himself in and was taken into custody. South Africa’s Police Service confirmed that a political killings task team is investigating the incident.

ANC Members Reportedly Among Victims

Local media reported that some of those shot were members of the African National Congress youth league. The memorial was reportedly held for a woman who served as a local ANC leader and died in a suspected politically motivated shooting earlier this month.

Police have not publicly confirmed the victims’ identities, saying only that they had attended a memorial for a member of a political party.

Concerns Over Political Violence

South Africa continues to face high levels of gun crime, including shootings linked to local political rivalries.

A report published earlier this month by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime identified 43 killings in the country this year suspected of being politically motivated.

The shooting comes ahead of South Africa’s local elections scheduled for November 4, when voters will choose the parties that control municipal councils.