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Shooting leaves eleven dead in Pretoria township
At least eleven people, including a three-year-old child, were killed when armed men opened fire at a hostel in Saulsville, west of Pretoria, early Saturday. Fourteen others sustained injuries in the attack, authorities confirmed.
Attack details emerge
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe stated that three unidentified gunmen stormed the venue around 04:30 local time (02:30 GMT). The assailants targeted a group gathered for drinks, firing indiscriminately. Among the victims were a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.
Mathe revealed that 25 individuals were shot in total, though the motive remains unclear. No arrests have been made as investigations continue.
Hostel linked to illegal liquor trade
The venue, described by Mathe as an "illegal shebeen" (unlicensed liquor outlet), has raised concerns over the prevalence of such establishments in South Africa. She noted that these unregulated premises are frequent sites of violent incidents, often ensnaring innocent bystanders.
"We are facing a severe challenge with these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises, where most mass shootings occur. Innocent people also get caught in the crossfire," Mathe told SABC.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, Police Spokesperson
Crackdown on illegal outlets
In response to the rising violence, South African police shut down 12,000 illegal liquor outlets between April and September this year. Over 18,000 individuals were arrested during the operation, targeting unlicensed venues nationwide.
South Africa's alarming crime rates
The attack adds to the country's grim statistics, which include one of the world's highest murder rates. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, South Africa recorded 45 murders per 100,000 people in 2023-24. Police data further reveals that an average of 63 people were killed daily between April and September this year.
