At least 11 killed in South Africa mass shooting

At least 11 people died in a mass shooting at a hostel in South Africa.

Another 14 people were injured when gunmen stormed the event venue in the Saulsville district, west of the capital Pretoria, in the early hours of Saturday. There was also a 3-year-old child among the dead.

“At least three unidentified gunmen entered this hostel, where a group of people were drinking, and started shooting randomly,” police spokesperson Brigadier General Athlenda Mathe said. he said.

The reason for the attack is unknown and no arrests have been made. It’s the latest in a series of mass shootings that have shaken the crime-ridden country in recent years.

Gunmen reportedly entered the building at 04:30 local time (14:30 GMT) and opened fire on a group of men drinking. A 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were among those killed in the attack.

“I can confirm that a total of 25 people were shot,” Mathe said.

Describing the hostel as an “illegal place”, she added: “We face a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed drinking establishments, where most mass shootings occur.”

“Innocent people are also caught in the crossfire,” he told public broadcaster SABC.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, at 45 per 100,000 people, according to 2023-24 figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

According to police data, approximately 63 people were killed every day between April and September.