12 People Killed in Mass Shooting at Illegal Tavern in South Africa

On Saturday, December 6, 2025, a mass shooting at an illegal tavern in Atteridgeville, a township west of Pretoria, South Africa, resulted in 12 deaths and 14 injuries. Three unidentified assailants opened fire on patrons at the unlicensed establishment around 4 a.m. local time. Among the deceased were three minors, including a 3-year-old. Police are investigating the motive behind the shooting, which occurred in a former hostel, an impoverished area known for violence. The incident is the latest in a series of mass shootings in South Africa, a country grappling with a high murder rate and challenges posed by the proliferation of illegal taverns.

On December 6, 2025, a mass shooting at an illegal bar in Saulsville township, near Pretoria, South Africa, resulted in 12 deaths and 14 injuries. The South African Police Service reported that three gunmen opened fire on a group of men at the bar around 4:30 am. Among the deceased were three minors, including a three-year-old boy. Police were alerted to the incident around 6:00 am and have launched a manhunt, with the motive currently unknown. The shooting highlights South Africa's ongoing struggle with high crime rates and illegal liquor premises, where many mass shootings occur.