Police in South Africa have confirmed a devastating mass shooting at a hostel in Pretoria, which has left ten people dead and more than ten others injured.
Scene of the Tragedy
The violent incident occurred at the Saulsville Hostel, located in the Atteridgeville area to the west of Pretoria. Emergency services rushed to the scene following reports of the shooting, where they discovered multiple victims.
At least ten people were killed at the scene, while more than ten others sustained gunshot wounds and were urgently transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. The exact condition of the injured remains unclear at this early stage.
Police Response and Investigation
South African Police Service (SAPS) national spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, provided the grim confirmation of the fatalities and injuries. She also stated that District Commissioner Major General Thine is personally on the scene overseeing the initial response and investigation.
The motive behind the shooting is not yet known, and police have not released details about any potential suspects. The area around the hostel has been secured as forensic teams begin their work to piece together the events that led to the bloodshed.
A Community in Shock
Hostels in South Africa, often originally built as single-sex migrant labour quarters, have a complex history and can be flashpoints for violence linked to local politics, gang rivalry, and socio-economic tensions. This latest incident has sent shockwaves through the Atteridgeville community.
The scale of the violence—with ten confirmed dead and over a dozen more wounded—marks it as a particularly severe episode of gun crime. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are expected to provide further updates as more information becomes available.
