Three Ethiopian Nationals Shot Dead In Daylight Attack At McDonald’s Restaurant In Johannesburg CBD

On Monday morning, 27 April 2026, three Ethiopian nationals were shot and killed inside a McDonald’s restaurant located at the corner of Jeppe and Smal Streets (also known as Rahima Moosa and Small Street) in the Johannesburg Central Business District.

The victims, all men aged between 30 and 45, were having breakfast at the time of the shooting. Two masked gunmen entered the fast-food outlet and opened fire on the three men. All three victims were declared dead at the scene. The attack occurred during breakfast hours, with reports placing the incident around 9am.

Gunshots caused immediate panic inside the restaurant. Witnesses described people running out screaming and holding their heads down in fear. Eyewitnesses outside the premises, including nearby business operators and shoppers, reported hearing three gunshots followed by chaos as customers and staff fled the area.

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) responded swiftly and sealed off the area. Emergency services attended the scene, and JMPD CCTV units along with reaction officers were deployed. The South African Police Service (SAPS) opened a triple murder investigation and launched a manhunt for the two masked suspects. As of Tuesday, 28 April 2026, no arrests had been made. Police are reviewing CCTV footage from the area and have urged members of the public with information to come forward.

Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni stated that no stone would be left unturned in the investigation. Johannesburg MMC for Public Safety Moshe Koma condemned the killings and described the attack as targeted.

Authorities have linked the incident to a pattern of violence involving Ethiopian nationals in the Johannesburg CBD. On the previous day, Sunday 26 April 2026, another Ethiopian national was shot dead at the corner of Rahima Moosa and Von Wielligh Streets in the same district.

Ward 59 Councillor Sthembiso Hlatshwayo, whose ward includes the area, described violent crime as a frequent and weekly occurrence in the Johannesburg inner city. He stated that people are being gunned down regularly in the precinct. According to the councillor, tensions among some business owners had been building for over a month, with approximately seven people shot in related incidents during that period. He noted that one shooting occurred on the same street the day before the McDonald’s incident.

Councillor Hlatshwayo has approached the Premier’s office requesting urgent intervention from law enforcement agencies. He emphasised that businesses and residents in the inner city are living in constant fear. The victims were believed to be shop owners and business operators active in the Johannesburg CBD.

Following the shooting, the usually busy area around the McDonald’s became subdued. Many businesses and shops in the Johannesburg CBD closed or pulled down their shutters in the immediate aftermath and into the following day.

The South African Police Service continues to investigate the motive behind the attack. The three men were confirmed as Ethiopian nationals, and officials have treated the shooting as a targeted incident. No further details on the identities of the victims or the suspects have been released publicly pending the ongoing investigation.

This triple murder forms part of a series of fatal shootings involving Ethiopian nationals in the Johannesburg CBD over consecutive days in late April 2026. Police and local authorities remain focused on locating the two gunmen and determining any connections between the incidents. The investigation remains active with no additional arrests or identifications reported as of Tuesday, 28 April 2026.