South Africans faced a tragic Saturday morning after a mass shooting left 11 people dead, including a three-year-old child, and 14 others injured at a hostel in the country.
Gunmen attacked a location in Saulsville Township, located west of Pretoria, early on Saturday. Among the deceased is a three-year-old child.
“At least three unidentified gunmen entered the hostel where a group was drinking and began firing indiscriminately,” stated police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and no arrests have been made. This incident adds to a series of mass shootings that have plagued the crime-ridden nation in recent years.
The assailants reportedly entered the venue around 4:30 am local time (2:30 am GMT) and opened fire on a group of men. A 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were also among the victims.
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“I can confirm that a total of 25 individuals were shot,” Mathe said.
She described the hostel as an “illegal shebeen,” noting that “we are facing a significant challenge with these illegal and unlicensed liquor establishments, where most mass shootings occur.
“Innocent people often find themselves caught in the crossfire.”
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, South Africa has one of the highest murder rates globally, with 45 murders per 100,000 people based on 2023-24 statistics.
Police data indicates that approximately 63 people were killed daily between April and September.
