JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Fourteen people were killed during a shootout in a bar in South Africa's Soweto township, close to Johannesburg, police said on Sunday (July 10).

"We were called in the early hours of the morning, around 12.30am (10.30pm GMT)," said police lieutenant Elias Mawela after the shooting overnight on Saturday and Sunday.

"When we arrived on the scene, 12 people were confirmed dead," he said.

Lt Mawela said 11 others were taken to hospital with wounds but two later died, raising the toll to 14.

The bar was in the Orlando district of Soweto, Johannesburg's largest township, south-west of the city.