A gun attack inside an unlicensed bar located in a hostel in the Saulsville township, west of Pretoria, has left 12 people dead, among them three children, and dozens more wounded, police confirmed Sunday. 

 

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the shooting occurred at about 4:15 a.m. on Saturday when three unidentified gunmen entered the hostel-bar, popularly known as a “shebeen,” and opened fire “indiscriminately” on a group of people drinking inside. 

 

Police say 25 people in total were shot. Ten died at the scene, and two more succumbed to their injuries in the hospital, raising the confirmed death toll to 12. 

 

TimesLIVE noted that among the deceased, the youngest is a 3-year-old child. Also killed were two other minors: a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl. Police say the 3-year-old is believed to be the son of the bar’s owner. 

 

At least 13 people remain hospitalised, many wounded, though officials have not disclosed their names or ages pending further investigation. 

 

No arrests have been made yet. Police have launched a manhunt for the three gunmen, urging anyone with information to come forward, as reported by the SABC News. 

 

Authorities described the venue as an illegal liquor outlet, a common type of unregulated tavern in the area. The shootings have once again highlighted serious concerns about public safety and the proliferation of unlicensed bars in townships. 

 

IOL reported that SAPS national spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the force had shut down nearly 12,000 illegal liquor outlets between April and September this year, and arrested more than 18,000 individuals linked to the illicit liquor trade, efforts she described as part of ongoing attempts to curb violence associated with such premises. 

 

In the wake of the tragedy, the provincial government condemned the killings and pledged stronger enforcement against illegal bars. At the same time, forensic and ballistics teams have begun processing evidence, including shell casings and CCTV footage, to establish the sequence of events and identify the assailants. 

 

The mass shooting adds to a growing list of high-profile bar and tavern attacks in South Africa, a country already grappling with one of the world’s highest murder rates. 

 

Meanwhile, the community around Saulsville is in mourning. Families of victims, including children and staff, are reeling from loss; survivors are receiving medical care; and local leaders have called for calm and cooperation with police as the investigation continues.