JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Police are searching for gunmen after two separate shootings near Johannesburg and Cape Town killed 27 people and wounded 26 within hours, according to the South African Police Service.

The attacks happened in different provinces and police have not announced evidence connecting them. Investigators also had not confirmed a motive or made arrests by the latest official updates.

Police said eight armed men attacked a tavern in Wedela, Gauteng, killing 17 people and wounding 15. Hours later, multiple gunmen opened fire at a venue in Lwandle, Western Cape, killing 10 people and wounding 11. Separate provincial teams are investigating.

The first attack occurred at about 9:30 PM South Africa time on Saturday, 26 September, at a tavern in Extension 3 of Wedela, in Gauteng's West Rand District.

South African police said eight unidentified men arrived carrying rifles and pistols. The police account says the attackers first fired at patrons outside, then entered the tavern and continued shooting.

Emergency workers declared 13 men and four women dead at the scene. Fifteen other people with gunshot wounds were taken to medical facilities.

Police said some patrons were searched and had mobile phones taken before the gunmen fled in two vehicles. Two other vehicles were burned during the incident. Those details form part of the police account and do not establish a motive.

The Gauteng investigation includes 17 murder cases, 15 attempted-murder cases and two property-damage cases, according to Al Jazeera's report based on the police statement.

Ten killed hours later in Lwandle