The death toll from a mass shooting at a tavern west of Johannesburg has risen to 18, South African police confirmed Monday, following the death of a victim in hospital. Among those killed, at least two were identified as nationals of Lesotho. The incident occurred late Saturday night and is part of a surge in violent attacks across the country over the weekend.

Authorities reported that 18 others were injured in the shooting. Of the deceased, only four have been identified so far, including two South African citizens and the two Lesotho nationals. Police have not made any arrests related to the incident.

Officials indicated that the motive for the attack remains unclear but suggested it could be linked to a retaliatory act following an earlier violent episode at the same tavern in August, during which one person was killed and another wounded.

The weekend’s violence also included another mass shooting in Cape Town on Sunday, where 10 people were killed. These events underscore the persistent challenges South Africa faces with violent crime.

Julian Rademeyer, an adviser to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC), noted that this year alone has seen at least 41 mass killings across South Africa, resulting in 196 fatalities. The continued frequency of such attacks highlights ongoing concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts to curb organized and spontaneous acts of violence.