PRETORIA – A three-year-old child is among 11 people who were shot and killed when unknown gunmen opened fire at a hostel in Saulsville, Pretoria, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
A total of 25 people were shot, with 14 still receiving treatment at a local hospital, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.
The owner of the establishment was also hospitalised.
It is understood that her three-year-old child is among the deceased.
According to Mathe, the shooting occurred at around 04:15 on Saturday morning.
“Police were only alerted at 06:00. We immediately mobilised our resources. Our forensic and ballistic experts are already on the scene of the crime, as well as our detectives and the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, to piece together what may have happened in this particular incident.
“We are told that at least three unknown gunmen entered this hostel where a group of people were drinking, and they started randomly shooting.
“In terms of the deceased, the youngest is three years old. We also have a twelve- and sixteen-year-old among the dead, along with eight others.
“We are still investigating the motive, but—as I have indicated—maximum resources have been deployed to find those who are behind this incident,” Mathe said.
No arrests have been made.
Mathe highlighted the challenge police continue to face with illegal and unlicensed liquor premises.
“Between April and September this year, we have actually shut down 11,975 unlicensed liquor premises throughout the country.
“The selling of liquor illegally is a major challenge. This is where most of the mass shootings are happening, where innocent people get targeted and caught in the crossfire.”
