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Gunmen stormed a hostel in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, on Saturday, resulting in the death of 12 people, including a three-year-old child. Authorities stated the shooting occurred at a location where alcohol was being sold illegally.
This incident is part of a disturbing pattern of mass shootings that have profoundly impacted the crime-ridden nation of 63 million people, which ranks among the countries with the highest homicide rates worldwide.
“Verified reports indicate that 25 individuals were shot,” police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed.
At the scene in Saulsville township, located 11 miles west of Pretoria, 10 victims died immediately, while two others succumbed later in the hospital. The twelfth person died from injuries on Saturday afternoon.
The attack involved three gunmen who entered an unlicensed shebeen—an informal drinking spot—inside the hostel around 4:30 a.m. and opened fire on a group of men drinking alcohol.
Among those killed were a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.
“It’s a truly unfortunate incident. Law enforcement was only alerted around 6 o’clock,” Mathe added.
Authorities have not identified a motive for the shooting, and no arrests have been made yet. A manhunt is ongoing to locate the unidentified suspects.
“One of our biggest challenges is dealing with these illegal, unlicensed liquor venues,” Mathe explained. “These are often the sites of mass shootings, and innocent bystanders frequently get caught in the crossfire,” she told the country’s public broadcaster, SABC.
South Africa, Africa’s most industrialized nation, continues to wrestle with widespread crime and corruption, often fueled by organized criminal networks. Gun violence is common, largely driven by gang conflicts and alcohol-related incidents.
Many residents own legal firearms for protection; however, a significant number of illegal weapons are in circulation despite fairly strict gun laws. Police data indicates that approximately 63 people are killed daily, placing South Africa among the world’s highest murder rates.
Most homicides are stemming from personal disputes, though robberies and gang violence also contribute heavily. For instance, in October, two teenagers were shot and killed during a gang-related incident in Johannesburg. In May, armed assailants killed eight patrons at a tavern in Durban.
Last year, 18 family members were shot and killed at a rural homestead in Eastern Cape Province.
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