Three children killed in mass shooting at South Africa bar

A mass shooting at an unlicensed bar in South Africa early Saturday morning left 11 people dead, including three children, and another 14 people injured, according to local police spokesperson.

Police say at least three unidentified gunmen began shooting inside a hostel in Saulsville, outside Pretoria around 4:15 a.m. local time.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe told Radio Bloem that 10 people were killed on site, including a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.

No additional information on the identities of the victims or the suspects has been released.

Why It Matters

Saturday’s mass shooting highlights ongoing concerns about gun violence and illegal taverns in the African nation.

The latest incident comes amid a backdrop of persistently high homicide rates in South Africa, which recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024—a figure translating to over 70 killings a day and placing the nation among those with the highest per capita murder rates globally.

The incident also draws attention to broader issues of unauthorized liquor sales and rising violent crime at unregulated establishments, known as “shebeens” that are common gathering places for local communities, especially in urban and peri-urban townships.

What To Know

On Saturday morning, the gunmen opened fire on the group of patrons, killing 10 on site. Another victim succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, bringing the total death toll to 11. Fourteen others suffered injuries of varying severity; however, authorities did not provide any information about the status of their wounds.

The shooting took place in a “shebeen,” which is an illicit bar that often operates without a license.

Mathe said police were only notified of the shooting nearly two hours after it occurred at 6 a.m.

“We are told that at least three unknown gunmen entered this hostel where a group of people were drinking and they started randomly shooting,” Mathe said.

Mathe explained that mass shootings at illegal liquor venues have posed major enforcement challenges as thousands of such establishments operate in the country.

“What I can tell you is that these illegal shebeens are really giving us a problem as the police, because a lot of murders are being reported at these illegal establishments,” she said.

Between April and September 2025, police closed over 11,000 unauthorized bars, she added.

Previous mass shootings—such as the 2022 Soweto tavern attack that killed 16 and others across the country—underscore the persistent risks posed by these sites, the Associated Press reported.

Authorities in South Africa have noted that recent large-scale acts of violence are not limited to bars. In September 2024, 18 individuals—15 of them women—were killed in tandem shootings at two houses in Eastern Cape province’s rural region. Seven men have since been arrested in that case, with police recovering three AK-style rifles suspected to have been used in the attacks.

What People Are Saying

Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, spokesperson for the South African Police Services, told Radio Bloem Saturday: “It’s quite problematic, because also in these mass shootings, it’s either they happen at licensed premises or illegal shipping. So we are intensifying our operations in terms of our inspections, and that is why you see a large number of them being shut down.”

What Happens Next

South African police have launched a manhunt for three unidentified male suspects and are appealing to the public for information.

Police are expected to provide further updates as the investigation continues and as the identities and conditions of the wounded become clearer.