At least 11 people lost their lives in a deadly shooting at a hostel in Saulsville township, west of Pretoria, South Africa, early on Saturday. Fourteen others were injured, including children, when gunmen opened fire at the establishment, leaving the community in shock.
A three-year-old child was among the victims, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attack.
"At least three unknown gunmen entered this hostel where a group of people were drinking and they started randomly shooting," police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.
The attack occurred around 04:30 local time (14:30 GMT), targeting people inside what authorities described as an unlicensed drinking spot. Among those killed were a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, showing the scale of civilian casualties in the incident.
"I can confirm that a total of 25 people were shot," Mathe added.
Describing the hostel as an "illegal shebeen," she highlighted the recurring dangers posed by such establishments. "We are having a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises," Mathe said. "Innocent people also get caught up in the crossfire."
The reason behind the shooting remains unclear, and no arrests have been reported. The incident is the latest in a spate of mass shootings in South Africa, a country grappling with a persistently high crime rate.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, South Africa’s murder rate stands at 45 per 100,000 people as of 2023-24, among the highest in the world. Police figures indicate that, between April and September, about 63 people were killed daily in violent incidents, noting the widespread security challenges facing the nation.
