A gunman opened fire at a bar near Pretoria, South Africa, resulting in 12 deaths, including a 3-year-old boy, and dozens more injured.
On Saturday, 6 Dec 2025, Athlenda Mathe, spokesperson for the South African Police Service, confirmed a shooting at a bar in Soweto, located 18 km west of Pretoria, where 25 people were shot. The latest death toll stands at 12, including a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl.
The shooting occurred at what Mathe described as an illegal bar inside a hotel around 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, 6 Dec. Three gunmen indiscriminately opened fire on a group of men who were drinking there.
Police were not notified until about 6:00 a.m. Authorities are currently hunting for the suspects, while the exact motive behind the attack remains unknown.
South Africa is the continent’s most industrially advanced country but is struggling with deep-rooted crime and corruption driven by criminal networks.
The country has one of the world’s highest murder rates, mostly due to robberies and gang violence. Between April and September this year, South Africa recorded approximately 63 murders per day.
"We face significant challenges regarding illegal and unlicensed liquor outlets," Mathe said, adding that such venues are frequent locations for shootings. "Many innocent people have been caught in the crossfire of this violence."
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:aljazeera