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JOHANNESBURG. — One person was killed when a man jumped on stage and began shooting at the crowd during a concert at the Hillbrow Theatre in the early hours of yesterday, Gauteng police said. “The suspect jumped onto the stage while a band was performing. He then grabbed a microphone and claimed that he would stop the band unless he got back his stolen cellphone,” said police spokesperson Colonel Lungelo Dlamini in a statement.

“When the audience tried to intervene, he fired shots randomly and eight people were shot.”

One person was killed and seven were seriously injured. They were being treated in hospital.

The gunman then apparently fled on foot. Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

In a separate incident, two miners at a South African gold mine owned by Harmony Gold died after they were trapped underground following an earth tremor, the company said yesterday.

Three miners were still missing after the incident on Friday at its Kusasalethu mine near Cartonville, west of Johannesburg.

“Our sincerest condolences go to the family and friends of the deceased,” Chief executive 0fficer Peter Steenkamp said in a statement.

“We will not rest until the other three employees have been found and brought to surface.

“Our efforts continue to focus on reaching our colleagues as quickly and safely as possible.”

South Africa is home to the world’s deepest mines, where workers operate at depths of up to four kilometres beneath the surface.

Nevertheless, the industry has reduced the number of miners killed in mines, with a new record low of 73 registered last year compared with 77 in 2015. — News24/Reuters/HR.