The attack, which occurred around 04:30 local time (02:30 GMT), is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have rocked the country in recent years.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the gunmen — at least three unidentified attackers — stormed the premises while a group of men were drinking and opened fire indiscriminately. Among the victims were a three-year-old child, a 12-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl, highlighting the brutality of the assault.

“I can confirm that a total of 25 people were shot,” Mathe said. She described the hostel as an illegal shebeen — an unlicensed drinking venue — and noted that such establishments have been frequent scenes of mass shootings. “We are having a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises,” she told the public broadcaster, warning that innocent bystanders often get caught in the violence.

No arrests have yet been made, and police have not established a motive for the attack. Authorities have launched a large-scale search for the suspects as forensic teams continue investigating the crime scene.

The shooting has renewed attention on South Africa’s escalating violent crime rates. The country has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with 45 murders per 100,000 people according to the latest UN data. Police figures show that an average of 63 people were killed every day between April and September this year.

In an effort to curb violence linked to illegal alcohol venues, police closed down 12,000 such establishments and arrested more than 18,000 individuals nationwide in the six months from April to September. Despite these measures, deadly mass shootings remain a recurring tragedy, fueling concerns about public safety and the proliferation of illegal firearms.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the Saulsville attackers to come forward as the search intensifies. (ILKHA)