U.S. News
Deadly Attack at Unlicensed Bar in Pretoria
Clear Facts
- Gunmen attacked an unlicensed bar near Pretoria early Saturday, killing 12 and injuring 13.
- Three children were among the victims, including a three-year-old boy.
- South Africa faces ongoing violence involving illegal firearms despite strict gun laws.
Early Saturday, gunmen opened fire at a bar in the Saulsville township, west of Pretoria, leaving 12 dead and 13 injured.
Police confirmed the attack happened around 4:15 a.m. inside a hostel. Ten people died at the scene, while two others passed away at the hospital.
Those killed included three children: a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl.
Authorities are searching for three male suspects connected to the shooting.
“We are told that at least three unknown gunmen entered this hostel where a group of people were drinking, and they started randomly shooting,”
said police spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe on national broadcaster SABC.
The motive for the attack is not yet known. Police received their first alert nearly two hours after the shooting began.
South Africa has seen several similar attacks in recent years, including a 2022 shooting in Soweto where gunmen killed 16 people at a bar.
Mass shootings at unlicensed taverns have become a major problem, authorities said, with over 11,000 illegal bars closed and more than 18,000 people arrested between April and September this year.
The country’s strict gun ownership laws have not stopped criminals from using illegal weapons in many homicides, totaling over 26,000 in 2024 alone.
Firearms are the leading cause of these homicides, according to police data.
Share your views on public safety and what steps officials should take to curb illegal gun violence in South Africa.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
