JOHANNESBURG — The streets of the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) were gripped by fear on Monday, April 27, following a targeted shooting that claimed the lives of three people. The incident occurred at the corner of Small and Jeppe Streets, specifically targeting individuals inside a McDonald’s restaurant located within the Lister Building complex.
According to eyewitnesses and local reports, the victims were identified as Ethiopian nationals who owned businesses in the area. Two masked gunmen reportedly entered the establishment and opened fire before fleeing the scene. In the wake of the attack, a heavy police presence was deployed to Small Street, with most shops in the vicinity closing their doors as the community mourned and braced for further instability.
This shooting comes at a moment of extreme tension across South Africa. Just this week, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the United Nations issued statements deploring a “resurgence of xenophobic violence” and vigilante conduct. These events are part of a broader wave of anti-immigration protests—including marches led by groups like Operation Dudula—which have intensified in Johannesburg and Pretoria over the last 48 hours. Local councilors have called for an immediate intervention into the escalating violent crime in the CBD, while police have launched a manhunt for the suspects involved in the April 27th triple murder. Video below
