At least 11 people have been killed and many more injured after gunmen opened fire at an informal bar (a “shebeen”) operating inside a hostel in Saulsville township, on the western edge of Pretoria, South Africa, police said. Authorities launched a manhunt for several suspects after the pre-dawn attack on Saturday.
Police and hospital sources gave differing casualty totals as the situation developed. Reuters and several other outlets reported 11 dead and 14 injured, while other organisations said as many as 25 people were shot and 12 people later died — figures that included children. Reported fatalities include at least three minors: a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.
According to investigators, the assailants entered the hostel and began shooting indiscriminately at people drinking at the shebeen in the early hours. Forensic and ballistic teams were dispatched to examine the scene as police appealed for information and said they were searching for three unidentified suspects. Officials have not yet publicly confirmed a motive.
The attack highlights the persistent levels of violent crime in South Africa, where illegal drinking establishments and the proliferation of unlicensed firearms have been linked to a number of recent mass shootings. Authorities have in recent months carried out crackdowns on illicit shebeens and focused operations against illegal weapons, but experts say enforcement has struggled to curb a broader wave of gun violence.
National and local police officials said they were working to identify and arrest the perpetrators and were coordinating with emergency services to care for survivors. Community leaders and national commentators expressed shock and called for urgent action to prevent further tragedies; an official inquiry into the circumstances of the shooting is expected to follow as investigations continue.
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