Atteridgeville – A deadly shooting at an illegal tavern in Saulsville, Atteridgeville, on the outskirts of Pretoria, left 11 people dead, including a three-year-old child, and 14 others injured. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, just after 4:15 a.m., but police were only alerted two hours later.
Authorities confirmed the tragic toll, with the youngest victim being a three-year-old, and other fatalities including a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old. The remaining victims were adults. SAPS National Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe provided the update, revealing that at least 25 people were shot during the attack. Ten of the victims died at the scene, while one succumbed to injuries later in the hospital.
The shooting unfolded when three unknown gunmen entered the hostel, where a group of people were drinking, and opened fire indiscriminately. The police investigation is still ongoing, with experts from forensic and ballistics teams already at the scene. Detectives from the Serious and Violent Crime Unit are working to uncover the motive behind the attack.
Brigadier Mathe also pointed to the widespread issue of illegal liquor outlets, noting that mass shootings often occur in these unlicensed establishments where tensions can quickly escalate. Between April and September of this year, South African authorities shut down nearly 12,000 illegal liquor outlets, arresting over 18,000 people for selling liquor without proper licenses.
Mathe vowed that police are deploying maximum resources to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
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