PRETORIA: No fewer than 11 people, including a three-year-old child, were killed in the early hours of Saturday after gunmen opened fire at a hostel in Soulsville township, west of Pretoria, South Africa.
Police said the attack occurred around 4:30 a.m. local time (2:30 a.m. GMT) when multiple armed men stormed the premises and began shooting randomly at people who were drinking inside the building.
Confirming the incident, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said at least 25 people were shot during the attack. Fourteen others sustained injuries, including a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.
At least three unknown gunmen entered this hostel where a group of people were drinking and started shooting randomly, Mathe said.
She added that the building was operating as an illegal shebeen, noting that unlicensed liquor outlets remain a major contributor to violent crime in the country.
We are having a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises. Innocent people often get caught in the crossfire, she said.
As of Saturday afternoon, the motive for the attack remained unclear and no arrests had been made.
Police said investigations were ongoing as officers continued combing the scene and intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators.
The latest incident highlights South Africa’s persistent struggle with violent crime and gun-related killings.
According to data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for 2023–2024, South Africa’s murder rate stands at about 45 per 100,000 people among the highest globally.
Police statistics also show that an average of 63 people were killed daily between April and September 2025, underscoring growing concerns over the proliferation of illegal firearms and the frequency of mass shootings across the country.
