A shooting at a bar near Pretoria, South Africa, has left at least 11 people dead, including three children, police confirmed on Saturday. The incident occurred in the township of Saulsville, approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) west of Pretoria.
Fourteen others were wounded in the shooting at the “shebeen,” and have been transported to hospitals. Police are searching for three unidentified suspects, and a motive has not yet been established.
“Three minors are among those deceased, which include 3- and 12-year-old boys and a 16-year-old female,” the South african Police Service stated.
According to police spokeswoman Athlenda Mathe, a total of 25 people were shot. “Ten of the victims died at the scene, while another died in hospital,” she said.
Mathe highlighted the challenges posed by illegal and unlicensed liquor premises, noting they are frequent locations for mass shootings. “We are having a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises,” she told public broadcaster SABC. “Innocent people also get caught up in the crossfire.”
South Africa experiences a high rate of gun violence,averaging 60 murders per day in a population of roughly 63 million. Shootings are frequently enough linked to gang activity and alcohol consumption.
Recent incidents include a shooting in Durban in May that killed eight tavern customers, and a 2023 event in Eastern Cape Province where 18 members of the same family were shot dead at a rural homestead.
