What do you even say when gunmen walk into a hostel before sunrise and open fire on people just trying to unwind?
That’s exactly what happened in Pretoria, where a brutal attack left twelve people dead — including a three-year-old child.
Police say 25 people were shot at what they described as an “illegal shebeen,” essentially an unlicensed tavern tucked inside a hostel in Saulsville.
It was around 4:30am when three armed men slipped in and began firing at a group of men who were drinking.
“Quite an unfortunate incident,” police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said — though “unfortunate” hardly captures the horror.
Teen Victims Killed
Two teens — a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl — were also among the victims.
And the worst part? No one knows why. The attackers vanished, triggering a manhunt with more questions than answers.
South Africa is no stranger to violence. With around 60 murders a day, the country battles entrenched crime networks and illegal guns.
Countless unlicensed bars are where tragedies like this often unfold.
“Innocent people also get caught up in the crossfire,” Mathe warned, highlighting a grim reality many South Africans already know too well.
And as investigations continue, one uncomfortable question lingers: How many more reminders will it take before this cycle finally breaks?
