SLAUGHTERED
AN eyewitness has described the horror moment gunmen walked into a bar and began spraying bullets at terrified customers.
At least 14 people died when gunmen armed an AK-47 and pistols opened fire on drinkers in the bar in South Africa - just hours after four people were killed in another bar shooting in the country.
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South Africa's night of horror began at around in 8.30pm when gunmen at opened fire at a bar in Pietermaritzburg.
A couple of hours later, three men with guns walked into in a bar in the township of Soweto, on the outskirts of the main city Johannesburg, and began spraying bullets.
The badly shaken eyewitness said he was having a few beers with pals after work when "our fun was abruptly stopped" at around 10pm when a man holding an AK-47 swung open the door.
"He didn't say anything and started opening fire," he told .
"My friend and others at the pool table scattered for cover. He sprayed them with bullets.
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"I saw them falling to the ground. It was pandemonium. I hid under a table. Four dead people were lying near me. Their blood spilled on me.
"After the man with an assault rifle was done, two others carrying 9mm pistols joined and repeatedly fired at people on the floor."
The man, who said the horror lasted 10 minutes, added: "They were heartless. I have never seen such brutality."
"People died in front of me. Some were screaming in pain," he said.
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"After killing people, including my friend, the gunmen slowly walked away.
"I don't know how I was spared because one of the men carrying a pistol was near me. I looked him in the eyes, and he walked away."
At least 14 people died in the shooting and ten others have been left injured, with three people fighting for their lives.
Teenagers are among the casualties.
The attackers fled in a white Toyota Quantum minibus.
Horrifying footage posted online shows the bodies of revellers on the floor.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Elias Mawela said the gunmen opened fire as "people were enjoying themselves in the tavern".
"They just came in and shot at them randomly," the cop said.
Mawela added: "All of a sudden they heard some gunshots, that is when people tried to run out of the tavern.
"We don't have the full details at the moment of what is the motive, and why they were targeting these people.
"You can see that a high caliber firearm was used and it was shooting randomly.
"You can see that every one of those people were struggling to get out of the tavern."
Mawela said the horror shooting happened around 12.30am this morning.
"Unfortunately, 12 died on the scene and another one died on arrival," the cop said.
"The 14th [victim] also died after admission.
"The number of cartridges found on the scene indicated it was a group of people who shot at the patrons."
His detectives said the casualties are aged between 19 and 35, according to .
DOUBLE HORROR
Mean while 300 miles away, four people were killed in a shooting at a Pietermaritzburg tavern in KwaZulu-Natal last night.
Eight others were rushed to hospital.
Two armed men in a VW Polo stormed into the tavern around 8.30pm before opening fire.
Two people died at the scene after being gunned down and two others died from their injuries in hospital.
It's understood no arrests have yet been made in the two shootings.
The double horror comes just a fortnight after 21 people died in a "poisoning" at a club in another South African city.
Bodies were found "strewn across tables and chairs" after the tragedy, which happened as students celebrated the end of their exams with a party.
There were "no visible injuries" to the bodies, which were discovered in Enyobeni Tavern in the coastal city of East London.
Early reports suggested the deaths may have been caused by a stampede.
However, the suggestion was quickly ruled out by Unathi Binqose, an Eastern Cape community and safety department official.
"It’s difficult to believe it’s a stampede as there are no visible open wounds to those dead," he said.
"Parents whose children did not sleep home are gathered here and they want to enter the tavern to look for their loved ones."
The youngest victim was a 13-year-old girl.
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Forensic pathologists have not yet concluded their reports.
However, it's believed the teens were killed by something they either inhaled or ingested.
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