A mass shooting at an unlicensed bar in South Africa left 12 people dead, including three children, in the early hours of Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. The attack occurred in the Saulsville township, located 18 kilometers west of Pretoria, the country’s administrative capital.
According to the South African Police Service, gunmen opened fire at approximately 4:15 a.m. inside a bar operating within a hostel. The shooting left 10 victims dead at the scene, while two others died after being transported to the hospital. Police were not alerted to the incident until 6 a.m., nearly two hours after the attack began.
Among the deceased were a three-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl. Another 14 people suffered gunshot wounds and were hospitalized, though authorities have not released information about their ages or current conditions. In total, 25 people were shot during the rampage.
Police spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe told national broadcaster SABC that gunmen entered the hostel where people were drinking and began shooting randomly. “We are told that at least three unknown gunmen entered this hostel where a group of people were drinking and they started randomly shooting,” she said. Authorities have launched a manhunt for three male suspects, though the motive for the killings remains unclear.
The bar, referred to as a “shebeen” in local terminology, was operating without a license. Mathe emphasized that these unlicensed establishments have become a serious concern for law enforcement. “We are having a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises,” she said, adding that most mass shootings occur at such locations and that innocent people often get caught in the crossfire.
Between April and September of this year, police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns across the country and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales. Despite these enforcement efforts, unlicensed bars continue to operate in townships and urban areas throughout South Africa.
South Africa struggles with one of the highest homicide rates in the world. The country recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024, translating to an average of more than 70 murders per day. Recent police data indicates approximately 63 people are killed daily, with firearms serving as the leading cause of death in homicide cases.
The nation of 62 million people maintains relatively strict gun ownership laws, requiring licenses and background checks for legal firearms. However, authorities say many illegal guns remain in circulation, frequently used in violent crimes. Many South Africans own licensed firearms for personal protection, a reflection of the persistent security concerns facing residents.
This latest incident continues a disturbing pattern of mass shootings at drinking establishments across the country. In 2022, a shooting in Soweto killed 16 people at a bar in the Johannesburg township. On the same day, four people died in another mass shooting at a bar in a different province.
More recently, in May 2024, gunmen killed eight customers at a tavern in Durban, the southeastern port city. These attacks highlight the vulnerability of bar patrons, particularly in establishments that operate outside regulatory oversight and may lack basic security measures.
Mass violence in South Africa has not been confined to bars and taverns. In September 2024, 18 people were killed in shootings that occurred minutes apart at two houses on the same road in a rural part of Eastern Cape province. Fifteen of the victims were women. Seven men were subsequently arrested for those shootings and face multiple murder charges. Police recovered three AK-style assault rifles believed to have been used in the attacks.
The continent’s most industrialized nation continues to grapple with entrenched crime driven by organized criminal networks, robberies, and gang violence. These systemic issues, combined with corruption and economic inequality, create conditions where violent crime flourishes despite law enforcement efforts.
As investigators work to identify and apprehend the three suspects in the Saulsville shooting, the incident underscores the ongoing challenges South Africa faces in addressing gun violence and protecting its citizens. The presence of young children among the victims has intensified calls for action, though authorities say that solving the crisis will require addressing deeper social and economic problems alongside law enforcement measures.
Sources:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/6/south-africa-shooting-leaves-12-dead-including-young-child-police
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/06/africa/south-africa-bar-shooting-intl
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/mass-shooting-at-south-african-hostel-bar-leaves-11-dead-including-3-children
https://www.newser.com/story/379936/11-dead-in-mass-shooting-at-south-african-bar.html
https://www.tmz.com/2025/12/07/mass-shooting-south-africa-bar/
