Tragedy struck the Saulsville Hostel in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, on Saturday morning, when a mass shooting claimed 11 lives and left 14 others injured. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe told the media that the youngest victims include a three-year-old, a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old, while the remaining eight deceased are adults, reports the Pretoria Rekord. Mathe said the incident occurred just after 4:15am, but police were only alerted at around 6am, prompting an immediate response.
She added that the Serious and Violent Crime Unit is working to piece together information on what may have led to the attack. According to Mathe, at least three unknown gunmen entered the hostel, where a group of people were drinking, and began firing indiscriminately. She described the incident as unfortunate, highlighting that both targeted individuals and innocent bystanders were caught in the crossfire.
While the motive for the attack is still under investigation, Mathe said maximum police resources have been deployed to identify those responsible. She also highlighted the broader challenge posed by illegal liquor outlets, which she linked to many such violent incidents. “We have a serious challenge regarding these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises. Between April and September this year, we shut down 11 975 unlicensed liquor premises throughout the country and arrested more than 18 676 people who were found to be selling liquor illegally,” said Mathe.
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