At Least 12 People Killed in South African Bar Shooting, Including Three-Year-Old Boy
A mass shooting at a bar in Pretoria, South Africa, has left at least 12 people dead, including three children. Police say the attack occurred early Saturday morning at an "illegal shebeen" – or unlicensed bar – within a hostel.
According to officials, 25 people were shot during the attack, which took place around 4:30am local time. Thirteen victims have been taken to hospital for treatment. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but police are conducting a manhunt in an effort to apprehend those responsible.
Three minors – a three-year-old boy and two teenagers, aged 12 and 16 – were among the fatalities. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe described the location as "illegal" and said it is where many mass shootings occur due to the presence of unlicensed liquor premises.
South Africa struggles with high crime rates and corruption, with some 63 people killed each day between April and September, according to police data. Many of these incidents involve robberies and gang violence.
In recent months, the country has experienced multiple violent attacks. In October, two teenagers were killed in a gang-related shooting in Johannesburg, while eight customers were killed at a tavern in Durban in May. Last year, 18 people were shot dead at a rural homestead in the Eastern Cape province.
South Africa's high murder rate is attributed to the widespread availability of unlicensed firearms. While many South Africans own licensed guns for personal protection, there are also thousands of illegal guns circulating on the streets. The presence of these illicit firearms has contributed significantly to the country's violent crime problem.
Police have launched an investigation into Saturday's shooting and are working to identify those responsible.
A mass shooting at a bar in Pretoria, South Africa, has left at least 12 people dead, including three children. Police say the attack occurred early Saturday morning at an "illegal shebeen" – or unlicensed bar – within a hostel.
According to officials, 25 people were shot during the attack, which took place around 4:30am local time. Thirteen victims have been taken to hospital for treatment. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but police are conducting a manhunt in an effort to apprehend those responsible.
Three minors – a three-year-old boy and two teenagers, aged 12 and 16 – were among the fatalities. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe described the location as "illegal" and said it is where many mass shootings occur due to the presence of unlicensed liquor premises.
South Africa struggles with high crime rates and corruption, with some 63 people killed each day between April and September, according to police data. Many of these incidents involve robberies and gang violence.
In recent months, the country has experienced multiple violent attacks. In October, two teenagers were killed in a gang-related shooting in Johannesburg, while eight customers were killed at a tavern in Durban in May. Last year, 18 people were shot dead at a rural homestead in the Eastern Cape province.
South Africa's high murder rate is attributed to the widespread availability of unlicensed firearms. While many South Africans own licensed guns for personal protection, there are also thousands of illegal guns circulating on the streets. The presence of these illicit firearms has contributed significantly to the country's violent crime problem.
Police have launched an investigation into Saturday's shooting and are working to identify those responsible.
you got these unlicensed bars popping up everywhere and it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong, which sadly happened here at this hostel bar in pretoria. three years old kid dead? that's just horrific, what's the point of even trying to license those bars if they're gonna keep on operating like this? and 63 people killed every day? it's too much, someone needs to do something about it 
! Another senseless tragedy in South Africa... I feel bad for the families of the victims, especially that poor three-year-old boy 
. The lack of unlicensed bars and liquor premises being shut down is frustrating - it's like, can't we just keep our communities safe for once?! 
We need to do something about this gun violence ASAP... I mean, I know licensed guns are okay, but these thousands of illegal guns on the streets are just asking for trouble. 
Anyway, I'm really worried about the safety of all those kids in SA schools. They need to do more to keep us safe, you know? Like, better security and stuff. And maybe they should look into why these shootings are happening so much. Is it just because of the guns or is there something else going on?!? I don't get it 
it's just not right, you know? South Africa's got some serious issues with crime and corruption, and this is just another example of how things can go wrong. I'm no expert, but it seems like the presence of unlicensed liquor premises and those crazy guns are making things worse. The police should catch whoever did this ASAP 
it's just not right that these illegal bars exist and attract all sorts of bad people. 
the police are doing their best to catch the culprits but it's hard when you don't have enough resources. 
crime rates in South Africa are already super high, so this doesn't help. 
I just hope they can get to the bottom of it and make sure justice is served for these victims and their families. 
Like, what's the deal with this? Can't even go out for a drink without worrying about getting shot? And to make matters worse, a 3-yr-old kid was caught in the crossfire... 
Just great. The stats are just getting crazier too - 63 people killed per day? That's insane! It feels like every weekend there's another shooting or another violent incident somewhere in the country. I mean, I get that crime is a problem, but can't we do better than this? 
did his parents know? and 12 people dead, including 25 shot... it's like a war zone out there. corruption & high crime rates are a big issue here 
it's not an easy problem but someone's gotta do something about it, right?
... 12 people killed including a 3-year-old boy 
. It's like, how can this keep happening? 
sometimes it feels like things never get any better
at least 12 people killed in a senseless bar shooting, including a tiny three-year-old boy... how can someone do such a thing? 
gotta wonder if it's just about the liquor or is there something deeper going on here? 
from corruption to gang violence... it's a perfect storm 
in South Africa. 12 people, including a three-year-old kid, killed in one night? It's just too much. The police are doing their best, but the problem runs deeper than just one incident. We need to think about why these illegal shebeens even exist in the first place. Is it because the authorities aren't doing enough to crack down on them? Because there are loopholes in the system that allow these unlicensed bars to pop up and thrive?
or something and now this bar shooting where did all these guns come from?