PRETORIA (CONVERSEER) – A devastating early‑morning shooting at an illegal shebeen inside a hostel in the Saulsville township, west of Pretoria, has left at least 12 people dead and 14 more hospitalised after gunmen opened fire on patrons.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), a total of 25 people were shot. Ten victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries in hospital.
Among the deceased are three minors, a 3‑year‑old boy, a 12‑year-old boy and a 16‑year-old girl – the youngest reportedly the child of the shebeen’s owner. The remainder of the victims were adults.
The gunmen, at least three, according to police are still at large, prompting a nationwide manhunt. Authorities have said the attack appears to have been indiscriminate, with the assailants firing randomly at people drinking inside the unlicensed tavern.
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The motive remains unclear. Police and forensic investigators are combing the scene, interviewing patrons and witnesses, and gathering ballistics evidence, but no arrests have yet been made.
The tragic incident once again highlights the dangers posed by illegal liquor outlets, commonly known as shebeens. These venues have been repeatedly linked to shootings and violent incidents. Police have repeatedly warned about the risks tied to unlicensed taverns.
Officials say they have deployed all available resources to hunt down those responsible and bring them to justice. Meanwhile, families of victims including children mourn the devastating loss.
(MDN)
