SAULSVILLE - The death toll following a mass shooting in Atteridgeville has now risen to 12. Police have launched a manhunt for 3 suspects.
The gunmen stormed an illegal tavern at the Saulsville Hostel in the early hours of Saturday morning.
"I just received a call. We still don’t know what happened. We are waiting to hear from the people who were inside what really happened to my relatives."
According to police, 3 suspects stormed this illegal liquor outlet in the early hours of the morning. They believe they opened fire with automatic rifles. 25 people were shot. Among the dead — three children, believed to be the tavern owner’s.
Read | Saulsville Mass Shooting | Death toll rises to 11, including 3 minors
A relative of one of the victims told eNCA that, among the deceased is an only child who had come with the family from eNkandla, in KwaZulu-Natal.
"I am heartbroken because the boy who died here was an only child. There is no other child left. Other relatives of ours from the Khanyile family also died here. Even the owner of this tavern, who is in hospital, is our relative. I am just lost for words."
The motive for the shooting remains unknown, with community members now fearing for their safety.
"As a community we are shocked because it came out of nowhere. We don’t know what’s happening or where they came from. They didn’t say who they wanted. They just started shooting. There are people in Kalafong Hospital and we hope some of them may have answers.”
The police have expressed concern about illegal liquor outlets where a lot of these crimes seem to be taking place.
Gauteng Police Commissioner, Tommy Mthombeni, says they will be applying the law without compromise as they deal with this matter. He says that, "there is a clear contravention of the Gauteng Liquor Act in this case."