An off-duty Johannesburg metropolitan police department (JMPD) officer and a bystander were shot dead on Sunday evening.

JMPD spokesperson chief superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the two were killed during an alleged robbery at a place of entertainment in Vlakfontein, south of Johannesburg.

"The motive for the shooting appears to be robbery, as an undisclosed amount of money was taken. There is a search for five armed suspects in a white Ford Laser."

No arrests have been made.