National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola announced that arrests of three suspects are imminent following a deadly shooting at a tavern in Saulsville, Pretoria, where 12 people were killed and 13 injured. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning when gunmen opened fire on patrons. Police are investigating the motive, though they have some leads.
In the early hours of Saturday, three gunmen entered a tavern at a local hostel in Saulsville, Pretoria, and opened fire on patrons, resulting in 12 deaths and 13 injuries. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola addressed the media at the crime scene on December 8, stating that arrests of the three suspects are imminent. One of the suspects is a parolee released in September for various crimes.
Masemola noted that intelligence is still gathering information, but police have an idea of the suspects' identities. 'However, intelligence is still gathering and analyzing information that has been received. In no time, we are confident we will find three suspects which we do have an idea who they are,' he said. The tavern owner, who was shot three times, is in hospital and has been charged in connection with the incident.
The motive remains unknown, though investigations are ongoing. A family member who lost three relatives—her little brother and two nephews—described the devastation. Two sisters and other nephews are also hospitalized, making six family members affected in total. 'I have lost three souls in my home, my little brother and two nephews and my two sisters who are still in hospital, also my other few nephews, in total, all my 6 family members are in hospital and these three were badly injured and already dead when I got here and what I found here was a terrible situation,' the relative said, speaking anonymously and calling for justice.
This tragedy has left the community reeling, with police vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.