In brief
In a horrific incident early Saturday morning, a mass shooting at a hostel in Saulsville, South Africa, resulted in the deaths of at least 11 people, with 14 others injured. Among the deceased was a three-year-old child. The gunmen, described as three unknown individuals, stormed the establishment at approximately 4:30 AM local time, targeting a group of people socializing and consuming alcohol. No arrests have been made, and the motive remains unclear. The police have linked the violence to challenges surrounding illegal liquor venues, common in the area. South Africa's alarming murder rate continues to raise concerns about public safety.
At least 11 people have been killed in a mass shooting at a hostel in South Africa.
Fourteen others were wounded when gunmen stormed the venue in Saulsville township, west of the capital Pretoria, early on Saturday. A three-year-old is among the dead.
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 motive of the shooting is unknown and no arrests have been made. It is the latest in a string of mass shootings that have rocked the crime-ridden country in recent years.
The gunmen reportedly entered the premise at 04:30 local time (14:30 GMT) and opened fire on a group of men who were drinking. A 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were among those killed in the attack.
I can confirm that a total of 25 people were shot, Mathe said.
Describing the hostel as an illegal shebeen, she added: We are having a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises, where she said the majority of mass shootings occur.
Innocent people also get caught up in the crossfire, she told public broadcaster SABC.
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, at 45 people per 100,000 according to 2023-24 figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Some 63 people were killed every day between April and September, according to police data.
