At least 12 people, including a three-year-old child and two teenagers, died after gunmen opened fire at an illegal bar in Saulsville, west of South Africa’s Pretoria, early Saturday morning.
Another 25 people suffered injuries in one of the deadliest attacks the area has seen this year.
Police say the shooting took place around 4:30 a.m. local time on December 6, but it was only reported at 06:00 am. The illegal bar, locally known as “shebeen,” was located inside a hostel in Saulsville.
Highlights
- At least 12 people, including a 3-year-old child and two teenagers, were killed in a mass shooting at an illegal bar in Saulsville.
- Three armed men opened fire around 4:30 a.m. on December 6, killing 10 at the scene and two others later in the hospital.
- The youngest victim was the 3-year-old son of the illegal bar’s owner, with other minors among the dead, deeply affecting the family.
- Police have shut down nearly 12,000 unlicensed liquor premises this year due to frequent violent incidents at these locations.
At least 12 people were killed after gunmen opened fire in an illegal bar in South Africa
Image credits: WION/YouTube
According to authorities, at least three armed men entered the venue and began firing at people.
Ten victims died at the scene. Two others later died in the hospital. South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that three of the dead were minors.
Reports say the youngest victim, a 3-year-old boy, was the child of the shebeen’s owner.
A 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were also killed.
Image credits: Brenton Geach/Getty Images
Mathe said the tragedy deeply affected the family. “We are told that the three-year-old is actually the child of the owner. I think one of the minors is also a brother of the owner,” she said.
“So quite an unfortunate situation, but we have full faith and confidence in the team that has been established to get to the bottom of this case.”
Mathe told Times Live, “These unlicensed liquor premises are posing a challenge for us because that is where most of these incidents happen, where people are being killed.”
“There are confrontations and misunderstandings that lead to people fighting and ultimately some losing their lives,” Mathe continued. She said nearly 12,000 similar locations had been shut down between April and September.
Image credits: WION/YouTube
Several victims remained in the hospital on Sunday, including the owner of the illegal bar. On December 6, the police forensics team was seen combing through the scene, where the bodies of the victims had not yet been removed.
Police launched a search for three unidentified suspects believed to be behind the attack. Investigators have not established a motive.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department is assisting SAPS detectives. The investigation remains ongoing, and the city has asked anyone with information to come forward.