At least 11 people, including a three-year-old child, were killed early Saturday when gunmen opened fire inside a hostel in Saulsville township, west of Pretoria. Fourteen others were wounded in one of South Africa’s deadliest mass shootings this year, police said.
Police spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe told reporters that three unidentified gunmen entered the building shortly after 04:30 local time (02:30 GMT) and opened fire on a group of people who had gathered to drink. “I can confirm that a total of 25 people were shot,” Mathe said.
The attack also killed a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, according to officials.
Authorities described the site as an illegal and unlicensed liquor venue, commonly known locally as a shebeen — establishments police say are frequently linked to mass-casualty shootings.
“We are having a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises,” Mathe said in an interview with public broadcaster SABC. “Innocent people also get caught up in the crossfire.”
Police said the gunmen escaped the scene and have not yet been identified. The motive remains unclear.
The shooting comes as South African police intensify a nationwide clampdown on illegal drinking establishments. According to government data, between April and September, officers shut down 12,000 illegal liquor outlets and arrested more than 18,000 people in related operations.
Read Also: Oliseh Warns South Africa Of Sanctions In Mokoena Case
Officials say these venues often lack security, attract armed groups, and create conditions that escalate into violent confrontations.
South Africa has long struggled with some of the highest violent-crime levels in the world.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the country recorded 45 murders per 100,000 people in 2023–24, one of the highest rates globally.
Police statistics show that 63 people were killed every day between April and September this year.
The latest attack adds to a growing list of mass shootings that have alarmed residents and renewed pressure on authorities to strengthen policing strategies in crime-ridden communities.
Police say a large team of detectives and forensic specialists has been deployed to the Saulsville scene. Investigators are reviewing witness accounts and examining ballistic evidence, but no arrests have been announced.
Officials urged anyone with information to come forward as the search for the gunmen intensifies.
