Sri Lanka, Dec. 21 -- At least nine people were killed and 10 others wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire at a tavern in a township near Johannesburg early on Sunday, in the latest mass shooting to shock South Africa.

The attack took place shortly before 1am at a bar in Bekkersdal, an impoverished gold-mining area about 40 kilometres southwest of Johannesburg.

Police said around a dozen suspects arrived in two vehicles - a white kombi and a silver sedan - and began firing at patrons inside and outside the tavern.

"The suspects opened fire at tavern patrons and continued to shoot randomly as they fled the scene," the South African Police Service said in a statement.

Some victims were also shot in nearby streets as the gunmen escaped...