At least 11 people – including a three-year-old child – have been killed in a mass shooting at a hostel in South Africa.
Fourteen others were wounded when gunmen stormed the venue in Saulsville township, west of the capital Pretoria, early on Saturday.
At least three unknown gunmen began firing "randomly" at a group of people who were drinking, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.
The motive of the shooting is unknown and no arrests have been made. It is the latest in a string of mass shootings that have rocked the crime-ridden country in recent years.
The gunmen reportedly entered the premise at 04:30 local time (02:30 GMT) and opened fire on a group of men who were 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 shebeen", she added: "We are having a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises," where she said the majority of mass shootings occur.
"Innocent people also get caught up in the crossfire," she told public broadcaster SABC.
In a major crackdown, police shut down 12,000 such premises outlets between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people across the country.
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, at 45 people per 100,000 according to 2023-24 figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Some 63 people were killed every day between April and September, according to police data.
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Artemis 2 captures historic 'Earthset' photo | Space photo of the day for April 7, 2026 - 2Vote In favor of Your Favored Menial helper Administration
- 3After harsh winter, Ukrainians find joy in releasing bats rescued from war
- 4Getting Your Youngsters' Future: Grasping Legacy Regulations
- 5Will your baby get a hep B vaccine? What RFK panel's ruling means.
- 7 Straightforward Moves toward Move Information from Your Old Cell phone to Your New One: A Thorough Aide
- A24's 'Backrooms' trailer shows endless fluorescent-lit spaces and terrifying mannequins melting into the floor
- Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo sentenced for conspiracy
- Gilead's new HIV prevention shot added to CVS's drug coverage lists, CEO says
- Embracing Practical Living and Ecological Protection
- It's your last chance to subscribe to Paramount+ before they raise their prices: Here's how to lock in current pricing
- Figure out How to Track and Anticipate Future Cd Rates
- Public mistrust linked to drop in deceased donor organ donations and kidney transplants
- What will the Artemis 2 astronauts eat during their historic moon mission? (video)
