Tragedy Strikes: Unlicensed Bar Shooting in South Africa

A mass shooting at an unlicensed bar near Pretoria, South Africa, resulted in 11 deaths, including three children. Fourteen others were injured. The attack was allegedly carried out by three gunmen, with the motive still unknown. Authorities spotlight the growing issue of illegal tavern-related violence.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Capetown | Updated: 06-12-2025 19:45 IST | Created: 06-12-2025 19:45 IST
Tragedy Strikes: Unlicensed Bar Shooting in South Africa
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A tragic mass shooting at an unlicensed bar situated near South Africa's capital, Pretoria, has claimed the lives of at least 11 people, among them three children aged 3, 12, and 16. The South African Police Services confirmed that the incident also left 14 others injured and hospitalized.

The violent encounter occurred in the early hours at a hostel-based bar in Saulsville township. According to officials, ten victims succumbed on the spot, with the eleventh passing away at the hospital. Authorities have launched a manhunt for three male suspects believed to have initiated the attack.

Such mass shootings in unlicensed venues, often referred to as shebeens or taverns, pose a growing concern in South Africa, a country already grappling with high homicide rates. The nation's strict gun laws are often undermined by the proliferation of illegal firearms, contributing to these violent episodes.

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