The death toll from a Saturday morning shooting at a hostel in Saulsville, about 18 kilometres west of Pretoria, has risen to 11, South African police confirmed.
According to South Africa Broadcasting News, the attack is the latest in a series of mass shootings that have rattled the nation of 63 million people.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said 25 people were shot when three armed men stormed the premises at around 4:30 am (0230 GMT) and opened fire on a group of men who were drinking. Fourteen victims remain in hospital.
Ten people died at the scene, while an eleventh victim succumbed to injuries later in hospital. Among the dead are a three-year-old child, a 12-year-old, and a 16-year-old.
“Quite an unfortunate incident. Police were only alerted to this incident at around 6 o’clock,” Mathe said, adding that the motive behind the attack remains unknown and that no arrests have been made.
Authorities say maximum resources have been deployed to track down the gunmen.
South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised economy, continues to battle pervasive violent crime and corruption linked to organised networks. Police statistics show that between April and September, an average of 63 people were killed daily, underscoring the scale of the country’s security challenges.
Mathe confirmed that investigations are ongoing as detectives work to establish what triggered the deadly assault.
