Gunmen stormed a hostel in Saulsville, located 18 kilometres west of Pretoria, on Saturday morning, killing 11 people, including a three-year-old child, according to South African police.

Naijaonpoint reports that the attack, which is the latest in a series of mass shootings, has raised concerns about escalating violence in the country.

The country’s Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, confirmed that a total of 25 people were shot during the incident.

“I can confirm that a total of 25 people were shot,” Mathe said, adding that 14 victims were hospitalised.

She explained that ten victims died at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries in the hospital. The victims included a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old.

Mathe described the incident as “quite an unfortunate incident” and mentioned that police were only alerted to the attack around 6:00 a.m.

“Police were only alerted to this incident at around 6 o’clock,” she noted.

According to authorities, the gunmen entered the hostel around 4:30 a.m. (0230 GMT) and opened fire indiscriminately on a group of men who were drinking. The motive behind the attack remains unknown, and no arrests have been made as of yet.

South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised nation, continues to face entrenched crime and corruption driven by organised criminal networks.

Despite many citizens owning licensed firearms for personal protection, illegal guns are widespread across the country.

Police data indicates a staggering level of violence, with an average of 63 people killed each day between April and September, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Mathe assured the public that investigations into the attack are ongoing.

“We are still investigating the motive, but as I’ve indicated, maximum resources have been deployed to arrest those that are behind this incident,” she concluded.

The authorities have vowed to bring those responsible to justice as the nation grapples with a growing tide of violent crime.

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