At least six people were killed and more than a dozen others injured after gunmen opened fire on a vehicle transporting Lesotho nationals near Meyerton, south of Johannesburg, on Tuesday.
Police described the attack as unprovoked, saying the vehicle was travelling towards Lesotho when it came under fire.
Gauteng deputy police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana said the driver attempted to evade the attackers by forcing their vehicle off the road to prevent further shots being fired.
“The driver of the bus tried to push them off the road so that they don’t continue shooting at them and causing harm. Fortunately, he managed to distract them,” Kekana said at the scene.
The suspects allegedly fled by hijacking another vehicle, sparking a police pursuit involving canine units, drones and helicopters. Three suspects were later arrested.
Among those killed were four women and two men. All the passengers, including 18 who were hospitalised with injuries, were Lesotho nationals.
The incident is the latest in a series of mass shootings in South Africa, where violent crime remains a persistent concern. The country records an average of more than 60 homicides a day, with many cases linked to organised crime, gangs and the widespread availability of firearms.
In December alone, two separate mass shootings — at a hostel and a bar — left 24 people dead, including several children.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the motive behind Tuesday’s attack.