11 people die in a mass shooting at a bar in South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa At least 11 people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at a bar in a township near Pretoria, authorities reported on Saturday. An additional 14 individuals were injured and transported to local hospitals, according to the South African Police Services. The ages of the wounded were not disclosed.

The incident occurred in the early hours at an unlicensed bar located within a hostel in the Saulsville township, west of Pretoria. Local reports confirmed the venues location inside a hostel.

The children among the victims were identified as a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl. Police are currently searching for three suspects in connection with the attack.

South Africa, with one of the worlds highest homicide rates, recorded over 26,000 murders in 2024, averaging more than 70 deaths per day. Firearms remain the leading cause of homicides. Despite strict gun ownership regulations, illegal weapons are frequently used in violent crimes.

The country has witnessed multiple mass shootings at bars, often referred to as shebeens or taverns. Notably, a 2022 attack in Soweto, Johannesburg, resulted in 16 fatalities. In a separate case in September of last year, two houses on the same road in Eastern Cape were the scenes of mass shootings that killed 18 people, 15 of whom were women. A suspect was charged with 18 counts of murder, allegedly using an AK-style assault rifle.

Author: Benjamin Carter