At least eleven people, including three young children, have been killed in a horrific shooting at a bar outside Pretoria, South Africa. The attack, which police describe as a random act of violence, has also left fourteen others injured.
A Night of Terror in Saulsville
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning in the Saulsville township. South African Police Services confirmed the shooting began at approximately 4.15am local time (6.15am GMT). According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, three unknown gunmen entered a hostel where people were drinking and opened fire indiscriminately.
Mathe told the national broadcaster SABC that the location was an 'illegal shebeen' – an unlicensed bar. The victims included a three-year-old, a twelve-year-old, and a sixteen-year-old child. The ages of the other victims have not yet been released.
Delayed Response and Ongoing Manhunt
Authorities revealed a critical delay in their response. Police were only alerted to the massacre at 6am, nearly two hours after the gunfire erupted. A major investigation is now underway, with law enforcement hunting for the three suspects.
The motive for the attack remains unclear. Brigadier Mathe highlighted the persistent danger posed by such illegal establishments, stating they present a 'serious challenge' and often see innocent people 'caught up in the crossfire' of violence.
A Recurring Tragedy in South Africa
This mass shooting is a grim addition to a series of similar tragedies at South African bars, commonly known as taverns. The nation grapples with one of the highest murder rates globally.
Recent years have seen several comparable attacks:
- In 2022, 16 people were killed in a shooting in Soweto, Johannesburg.
- Last year, 18 people were murdered in mass shootings at two separate houses in the Eastern Cape province.
According to official police data, an average of around 63 people are killed each day in South Africa, underscoring the scale of the country's violent crime epidemic. In the wake of the Saulsville shooting, police recovered three AK-style assault rifles believed to have been used in the attack.
