A mass shooting at an illegal tavern in Saulsville, Pretoria, has left 12 people dead, including three children, after three gunmen opened fire early on December 6, 2025. Authorities are investigating the motive while intensifying crackdowns on unlicensed liquor outlets linked to rising violence. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in policing such crime hotspots.
On December 6, 2025, around 4 a.m., three unknown gunmen stormed an illegal tavern inside a hostel in the Saulsville area of Atteridgeville, Pretoria, and fired indiscriminately, killing 12 people and injuring 13 others who were rushed to Kalafong Hospital. Among the dead were three children: the three-year-old daughter of the tavern owner, a 12-year-old, and a 16-year-old. Ten victims died at the scene, with the others succumbing to injuries later. Police were alerted at 6 a.m. and have opened 12 counts of murder and 14 of attempted murder.
South African Police Service spokesperson Athlenda Mathe stated that the motive remains unclear but detectives are piecing together statements from witnesses and the community to identify the suspects. "We are not aware yet what could have been the motive, but our detectives are on the ground," she said. Mathe highlighted the dangers of illegal shebeens, noting that between April and September 2025, police shut down 11,975 such premises where confrontations often turn deadly.
City of Tshwane's mayoral committee member for community safety, Hannes Coetzee, visited the scene and expressed outrage, calling it a "senseless act of violence." He affirmed the city's commitment to Operation Shanela, a joint effort with police to target illegal outlets. "Our commitment to improving public safety remains firm," Coetzee said.
The shooting underscores a troubling pattern, with at least 40 deaths from tavern mass shootings across South Africa in 2025, including incidents in Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and Gauteng. DA spokesperson Crezane Bosch criticized policing shortcomings, noting the tavern had been targeted three months prior and calling for data-driven resource allocation and a second station in Atteridgeville. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi condemned the attack, vowing to intensify operations against illegal liquor spots to prevent communities from living in fear.