Mass shooting in South African bar leaves 12 dead

A mass shooting that occurred on December 6 in South Africa at an unlicensed bar near the capital has left more than 12 people dead. According to AP News, the police have stated the victims included three children aged 3, 12, and 16.

This shooting also left another 13 people wounded, who are being treated at a hospital.

The attack occurred at a bar situated inside a hostel in the Saulsville township. The authorities have said that they are searching for three male suspects.

Brig. Athlenda Mathe, a police spokesperson, explained to the media that “we are told that at least three unknown gunmen entered this hostel where a group of people were drinking, and they started randomly shooting.”

The police spokesperson also added that the motive for these killings is still not clear; however, they noted that the shootings happened around 4:15 am, and police were notified at 6 am.

South Africa, which has one of the world’s highest homicide rates, recorded more than 26,000 killings in 2024, averaging over 70 a day. Officials attribute much of the increase in violent deaths to the growing prevalence of firearms.

This violence has led large numbers of women in South Africa to learn how to use guns to protect themselves, as the country is also facing a huge gender based violence crisis. On average, 15 women are killed every day in the country, and since 2024, gender based killings have risen by 34%.

With domestic violence remaining a pervasive problem, women are also turning to more innovative ways to protect themselves. One such effort includes the development of an app called ‘AI Aunt’, which offers a safe and discreet platform for women to report abuse and document incidents occurring behind closed doors.

The mass shooting at the unlicensed bar has had a significant impact, prompting a wider response from authorities. Police have shut down over 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year.

It comes after other mass killings in the country. According to police, 18 people were murdered, including 15 women, in attacks carried out minutes apart at two homes on the same road in a rural area of Eastern Cape Province in September 2024.

Investigations are still underway, with police working to identify the suspects and determine a motive amid growing concern over rising violence across the country.

AP News, Maghrebi.org