A tragic mass shooting at the Saulsville Hostel in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, has claimed the lives of 11 individuals and left 14 others injured. The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed the grim toll following the early Saturday morning incident. Among the deceased are three minors, including a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl, with the remaining victims being adults. The shooting occurred at an illegal establishment, often referred to as a ‘shebeen’, shortly after 4:15 am. Police were alerted to the scene around 6 am, prompting an immediate mobilization of forensic and ballistics experts. Authorities have launched a manhunt for three unidentified suspects believed to be responsible for the indiscriminate firing. The SAPS spokesperson emphasized the significant challenge posed by illegal liquor outlets, noting that over 11,000 such premises were shut down and more than 18,000 arrests were made for illegal liquor sales nationwide between April and September this year. This incident follows a similar mass shooting in Cape Town last month, where seven men were killed, highlighting a disturbing surge in gun violence across South Africa.
