Gunmen Open Fire in South African Hostel, Kill at Least 11- Including a 3-Year-Old

In the early hours of Saturday, armed men stormed a hostel in the Saulsville township, west of Pretoria in South Africa, opening fire indiscriminately on patrons gathered in what police say was an unlicensed bar inside the building.

The attack left at least 11 people dead, including a 3-year-old child, a 12-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl. Ten victims died at the scene, and another died later in the hospital.

Fourteen others were wounded and rushed to care. Authorities believe there were at least three gunmen, and a manhunt is underway to locate and arrest the suspects.

Police spokespersons described how the assailants entered the premises around 4:15 a.m., fired on those inside, and fled before officers arrived.

Investigators are probing a possible connection to the hostel’s illegal sale of alcohol, a recurring concern in many such establishments, and are appealing for help from the public.

The shooting has exacerbated anxiety in a country already struggling with high levels of gun violence, illegal firearm circulation, and frequent mass shootings.

Community leaders and residents are calling for urgent action to crack down on unregulated bars and improve security in informal housing and hostel-bar complexes.

Meanwhile, authorities warn that until the perpetrators are caught, many more could be at risk, underlining the broader challenge of crime, illicit liquor trade, and firearm proliferation across parts of the country.

Source: South African Police Service · Agence France-Presse · Associated Press