South African police have confirmed that 11 people, among them three children, were killed on Saturday after gunmen opened fire at an illegal drinking spot in Pretoria.
The attack occurred in the Saulsville township and also left 14 additional victims wounded.
Authorities said the shooting took place at a local shebeen a type of unlicensed bar common in many South African communities.
Police did not specify whether the gunfire erupted inside the establishment or outside it.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the fatalities included a three-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl.
Their ages added a tragic dimension to an already brutal attack in a country grappling with persistently high levels of violent crime.
A police spokesperson said investigators have launched an intensive search for three suspects believed to be involved, though their identities have not yet been released.
South Africa remains one of the most violent countries in the world, recording around 60 murders every day.
Mass shootings at bars, shebeens, and township gatherings have become disturbingly common as communities struggle with crime, gang activity, and illegal firearms.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and have urged residents with information to assist in tracking down the attackers.
