At least eleven people have been murdered in a mass shooting at an unlicensed bar in the South African capital of Pretoria, according to police. The victims include three young children.
Early Morning Attack at Township Shebeen
The violent incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning at a tavern, locally known as a shebeen, in the Saulsville township. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe stated that three unidentified gunmen entered the premises and opened fire on a group of people who were drinking.
"We are told that at least three unknown gunmen entered this hostel where a group of people were drinking and they started randomly shooting," Mathe told the national broadcaster SABC. The attack happened around 4:15am local time, but authorities were not alerted until two hours later, at approximately 6am.
Youngest Victims Among the Dead
The South African Police Service confirmed the tragic loss of life in an official statement. Three minors were among the eleven deceased. They have been identified as a three-year-old boy, a twelve-year-old boy, and a sixteen-year-old girl.
In addition to those killed, another fourteen people were wounded in the attack. Officers have not released details regarding the ages of the injured. A major manhunt has been launched for the three suspects, whose motive remains unclear.
A Nation Grappling with Chronic Violence
This horrific event highlights South Africa's severe struggle with violent crime. The country has one of the highest murder rates in the world, averaging around 60 homicides every day.
While South Africa enforces relatively strict gun ownership laws, authorities note that many killings are carried out with illegal firearms. This shooting is the latest in a series of similar attacks at bars in recent years:
- In September last year, 18 people were killed in mass shootings at two separate houses in the Eastern Cape province. Seven men were arrested, and police recovered three AK-style assault rifles.
- In 2022, a mass shooting in the Johannesburg township of Soweto left 16 people dead.
The latest attack in Pretoria, a city located roughly 30 miles north of Johannesburg, has sent shockwaves through the community and the nation, raising urgent questions about public safety and gun violence.
