By RismadarVoice Reporter
December 6, 2025
At least 11 people, including a three-year-old child, were killed after gunmen stormed a hostel in Saulsville, about 18 kilometers west of Pretoria, in a deadly early-morning attack on Saturday.
South African police confirmed that a total of 25 people were shot during the incident, with 14 victims currently receiving treatment in hospital.
Police said ten victims died instantly at the scene, while another later succumbed to injuries in hospital.
The victims include a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old.
Police spokeswoman Athlenda Mathe described the incident as “unfortunate,” noting that authorities were only alerted to the shooting around 6:00 a.m., although the attack occurred earlier at approximately 4:30 a.m.
According to police, three armed men entered the hostel premises and indiscriminately opened fire on a group of men who were reportedly drinking at the time of the attack.
The motive for the shooting remains unknown, and no arrests have been made so far.
The attack adds to a growing wave of mass shootings that have shaken South Africa, a country of about 63 million people.
Despite widespread legal gun ownership by citizens for personal protection, illegal firearms remain common, fueling violent crime across the country.
Official police statistics reveal that between April and September, an average of 63 people were killed every day in violent incidents nationwide, underscoring the scale of South Africa’s security challenges.
Mathe said investigations are ongoing, adding that “maximum resources have been deployed to arrest those that are behind this incident.”
Authorities have urged anyone with information about the attack to assist law enforcement as the search for the suspects continues.
