society
Pretoria in Mourning: 11 Dead, 14 Wounded as Gunmen Storm Hostel in Saulsville – A Nation Demands Answers
Pretoria in Mourning: 11 Dead, 14 Wounded as Gunmen Storm Hostel in Saulsville – A Nation Demands Answers.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published on saharaweeklyng.com
“Shocking mass-shooting at illegal “SHEBEEN” hostel bar exposes deep-rooted crisis of crime, guns and social decay in South Africa.”
In the early hours of Saturday, December 6, 2025, the township of Saulsville (located in Atteridgeville, some 18 kilometres west of Pretoria) was once again plunged into grief and outrage. A group of armed men forced their way into a hostel that doubled as an illegal “SHEBEEN” (bar) and unleashed indiscriminate gunfire on dozens of unsuspecting patrons. By the time the smoke cleared, at least 11 people lay dead and 14 more were wounded with many seriously. Among the dead were three children: a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl. The youngest victim reportedly belonged to the owner of the shebeen.
According to a statement issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS), at least three unknown gunmen entered the hostel shortly after 4:15 a.m. local time and began firing randomly at a group of people who were drinking. In total, police say 25 individuals were shot, 14 of them seriously enough to be hospitalised.
By afternoon, SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that one more victim had succumbed to their wounds in hospital with raising the death toll to 12. Investigators from the Forensic and Ballistics Units combed the scene of horror, while a manhunt was launched for the suspects.
A Painful Reflection of a Broader Crisis. This brutal massacre is not an isolated horror. Rather, it is part of a deeply troubling pattern that has come to define too many corners of contemporary South Africa is where illegal liquor venues, unlicensed firearms, poverty and gang violence converge in a deadly cocktail.
As Mathe lamented: “We are having a serious challenge when it comes to these illegal and unlicensed liquor premises. Innocent people also get caught up in the crossfire.”
Crime statistics bear that out starkly. South Africa, already burdened by one of the highest murder rates globally, registered more than 26,000 murders in 2024 alone which is an average of over 70 killings per day.
Between April and September 2025, police say they shut down nearly 12,000 unlicensed liquor outlets nationwide and arrested over 18,000 people for illegal liquor sales, a massive but clearly insufficient effort to curb the carnage.
Yet still the violence rages on. The Saulsville massacre is merely the latest in a string of mass shootings that have shaken townships and urban areas across the country with each attack a grim reminder of the fragility of safety for ordinary South Africans.
The Human Cost: Lives Lost, Families Torn Apart. Among the dead were very young children (a three-year-old boy, a 12-year-old, a 16-year-old girl) lives extinguished in an instant of cruelty and recklessness. Imagine the anguish of parents who sent their children out for what they thought would be a normal night but only to have that night end in horror. Imagine the siblings whose homecoming never came. Imagine a community which is already battered by decades of inequality, joblessness and marginalization is been confronted once more with the abyss of violence.
These are not faceless statistics. These are mothers, fathers, siblings, children, they are real people whose stories now ended in grief.
As social-justice scholar Khaya Moyo recently argued, “When violence is normalised, the humanity of its victims is erased and they become just numbers in crime statistics.” His words echo painfully in the wake of Saulsville.
Root Causes: Guns, Poverty, Illicit Economy and the Failure of Oversight. To understand how this horror could occur (and recur) one must confront a network of systemic failures.
Illegal and unregulated liquor outlets (“shebeens”) (often run out of desperation in impoverished areas) operate under the radar of law enforcement and regulation. Their unlicensed status makes them vulnerable to criminal infiltration: drug deals, gang recruitment, turf wars and extortion. According to police, these venues have become “HOTBEDS” of violence.
Proliferation of illegal firearms compounds the danger. Despite strict gun-control laws on paper, South Africa remains awash with illicit weapons. This enables petty disputes (or organized crime conflicts) to escalate rapidly into mass slaughter. As criminologist Jane Ndungu has observed: “In communities where livelihoods are precarious, guns become the ultimate currency and life becomes cheap.”
Poverty, unemployment and social marginalisation are the fertile soil in which this lethal mix grows. High levels of youth unemployment, inadequate housing, lack of recreational outlets and limited economic opportunity leave many with few prospects and many more vulnerable to predatory crime networks.
Weak regulation and enforcement have failed to close the door on illegal shebeens, guns and criminal networks. Even though thousands of unlicensed liquor venues were shut down this year, information suggests many remain active, while some reopen shortly after closure. The resources allocated to policing and oversight seem outmatched by the scale of the problem.
Why This Attack Demands National Outrage and Real Action. The blood spilled in Saulsville is not simply the result of unfortunate circumstance: it is emblematic of a national crisis that demands far more than condolence statements or momentary outrage. It requires fundamental, systemic change.
First, a comprehensive crackdown on illegal liquor outlets and the illicit economy. Authorities must vastly expand resources for enforcement, regulation, and community-level monitoring and not just reactive lockdowns but proactive disruption of criminal networks.
Second, a serious effort to disarm illicit firearms. Gun amnesty programmes, effective policing of illegal arms trafficking and cooperation between law-enforcement, local communities and civil society organisations must be prioritized as a national security emergency.
Third, meaningful social and economic investment in vulnerable communities. Poverty, inequality and marginalization cannot be addressed by policing alone. Government and civil society must create pathways to employment, education, stable housing, recreation and community development, so that young people do not see illegal shebeens or criminal networks as their only recourse.
Fourth, community empowerment and social accountability. Citizens must be encouraged and protected if they speak out against illicit operations in their neighbourhoods. Local civic organisations, churches, schools and grassroots movements must be supported to reclaim community spaces from criminal exploitation.
As author and human-rights advocate Lindiwe Ndlovu once wrote: “When communities are allowed to rot in silence, violence becomes the language of despair.” If Saulsville does not stir the nation from that silence, then we are complicit in its decay.
Summative Insight: A Nation at a Crossroads. The massacre at Saulsville is not just another tragic headline to scroll past. It is a stark warning and a painful, blood-stained alarm bell. It must shake the conscience of every South African who still believes in the dignity of human life, the sanctity of childhood and the promise of a safer society.
Eleven innocent souls, including children, were killed. Fourteen more lie in hospital, fighting for their lives. Families have been shattered. Communities traumatized. Trust in safety eroded. This is a moment that demands more than grief. It demands outrage. It demands accountability. And above all, it demands action.
If we fail to respond, we risk letting this massacre become just another statistic, just another page in the ledger. But if we respond (with resolve, compassion and justice) perhaps we can begin to turn the tide.
May the memories of the victims of Saulsville challenge us (as a nation, as a society) to confront the rot, to demand better, to build a future where no child goes to a shebeen, or a hostel, or a bar fearing for their life again.
society
Stop Means Stop”: Legal Experts Warn Ignoring ‘Stop’ During Intimate Acts Can Be Criminally Punishable
“Stop Means Stop”: Legal Experts Warn Ignoring ‘Stop’ During Intimate Acts Can Be Criminally Punishable
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“Grounded in international law and consent principles, legal authorities stress that continuing sexual activity after a partner withdraws consent may constitute sexual assault and lead to imprisonment.”
A growing body of legal interpretation and expert opinion reaffirm that consent in intimate encounters is not a one-off event but an ongoing requirement; withdrawn at any time by either participant. Legal practitioners and rights advocates are increasingly warning that if one partner clearly says “stop” during sexual activity and the other continues, this conduct can constitute a criminal offence with significant penalties, including imprisonment.
Consent must be “a voluntary agreement to engage in the sexual activity in question,” and crucially can be revoked at any stage. Once a partner expresses withdrawal of consent (by words like “stop” or by unmistakable conduct) the other party is legally obligated to cease all activity immediately. Failure to respect this is widely recognised in multiple legal jurisdictions as sexual assault or rape.
Professor Deborah Rhode, a prominent authority on legal ethics, has stated: “Respect for autonomy and bodily integrity lies at the core of consent law. Ignoring a partner’s withdrawal of consent undermines basic personal freedoms and is treated as a serious offence in criminal law.”
According to experts, this legal principle is not limited to strangers but applies equally to long-term partners and spouses. The Criminal Code in many countries explicitly rejects implied or blanket consent based on relationship status.
Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has similarly emphasised that clear communication and mutual agreement are essential, and that “once consent is withdrawn, any continued sexual activity crosses the line into criminal conduct.”
This means that in places where consent law is well-established, ignoring an explicit “stop” can lead to charges of sexual assault, with courts interpreting such conduct as a violation of an individual’s autonomy and dignity.
The issue has gained media and legal attention in recent years across numerous jurisdictions (including Canada, parts of Europe, and reform discussions in U.S. states) as courts and legislatures clarify that sexual consent is continuous and revocable at any time. Although no globally consolidated database exists of individual cases tied specifically to a news report on this warning, reputable legal frameworks consistently reinforce that continuing after “stop” is unlawful.
The subject engages legal scholars, criminal law practitioners, human rights experts, and statutory bodies advocating sexual violence prevention. Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors may pursue charges when clear evidence shows that consent was withdrawn and ignored.
In practice, consent frameworks require that the person initiating or continuing sexual activity take reasonable steps to ensure ongoing affirmation of willingness. Silence, passive behaviour, or failure to stop when asked cannot substitute for ongoing consent.
In summary, the legal maxim is clear: verbal or unambiguous withdrawal of consent must be respected. Ignoring it shifts the encounter from consensual to criminal, potentially resulting in serious legal consequences including imprisonment.
Lagos Family Property Dispute Turns Violent After Death of Chief Omotayo Ojo
By Ifeoma Ikem
A festering family dispute over property has escalated into a series of violent attacks in Lagos, leaving residents of a contested apartment in fear for their safety.
Mrs. Omotayo-Ojo-Alolagbe (Nee Omotayo-Ojo) the third child and first daughter of the late Omotayo Ojo, has alleged repeated assaults and destruction of property by her siblings from her father’s other marriages.
According to her account, hostility against her began while her father was still alive, allegedly fueled by the affection and support he showed her. She claimed that tensions worsened after his death in 2019.
Mrs. Alolagbe stated that her late father had given her a particular apartment during his lifetime, assuring her she would not suffer hardship, especially after her husband left the marriage. She said the property became her primary source of livelihood and shelter.
However, she alleged that her siblings had sold off several other family properties and were determined to dispossess her of the apartment allocated to her by their father.
The dispute reportedly turned violent on Nov. 15, 2025, when unknown persons allegedly attacked the building. She said the incident prompted her to petition the Chief Judge of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police.
Despite the pending legal proceedings, she alleged that another attack occurred on Jan. 21, 2026. During that incident, parts of the building were vandalised, including the walkway and the main gate, which was reportedly removed.
A third attack was said to have taken place on Feb.18, 2026, during which the roof, gates, and sections of the walkway were allegedly dismantled. Residents were reportedly assaulted, and some were allegedly forced to part with money under duress.
Tenants in the apartment complex are said to be living in fear amid the repeated invasions, expressing concern over their safety and uncertainty about further violence.
Mrs. Alolagbe alleged that the attacks were led by a man identified as Mr. Alliu, popularly known as aka “Champion,” whom she described as a political thug. She claimed he arrived with a group of about 50 men, allegedly brandishing weapons and breaking bottles to intimidate residents.
She further alleged that the group boasted of connections with senior police officers, politicians in Lagos State, and even the presidency, claiming they were untouchable.
According to her, some arrests were initially made following the incidents, but the suspects were later released. She expressed concern that the alleged perpetrators continue to threaten her, making it difficult for her to move freely.
She also disclosed that during a meeting on Feb. 23, 2026, an Area Commander reportedly told her that little could be done because the matter was already before a court of law.
The development has raised concerns about the enforcement of law and order in civil disputes that degenerate into violence, particularly when court cases are pending.
As tensions persist, residents and observers are calling on relevant authorities to ensure the safety of lives and properties ,while allowing the courts to determine ownership and bring lasting resolution to the dispute.
Adron Homes Introduces Special Ramadan Offer with Discounts and Gift Rewards
As the holy month of Ramadan inspires reflection, sacrifice, and generosity, Adron Homes and Properties Limited has unveiled its special Ramadan Promo, encouraging families, investors, and aspiring homeowners to move beyond seasonal gestures and embrace property ownership as a lasting investment in their future.
The company stated that the Ramadan campaign, running from January 20th to April 6th, 2026, is designed to help Nigerians build long-term value and stability through accessible real estate opportunities. The initiative offers generous discounts, flexible payment structures, and meaningful Ramadan-themed gifts across its estates and housing projects nationwide.
Under the promo structure, clients enjoy a 30% discount on land purchases alongside a convenient 36-month flexible payment plan, making ownership more affordable and stress-free.
In the spirit of the season, the company has also attached thoughtful rewards to qualifying payments. Clients who pay ₦200,000 receive a Provision Hamper to support their household during the fasting period, while those who pay ₦400,000 receive an Automated Prayer Mat to enhance their spiritual experience throughout Ramadan.
According to the company, the Ramadan Promo reflects its commitment to aligning lifestyle, faith, and financial growth, enabling Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to secure appreciating assets while observing a season centered on discipline and forward planning.
Reiterating its dedication to secure land titles, prime locations, and affordable pricing, Adron Homes urged prospective buyers to take advantage of the limited-time Ramadan campaign to build a future grounded in stability, prosperity, and generational wealth.
This promo covers estates located in Lagos, Shimawa, Sagamu, Atan–Ota, Papalanto, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osun, Ekiti, Abuja, Nasarawa, and Niger states.
As Ramadan calls for purposeful living and wise decisions, Adron Homes is redefining the season, transforming reflection into investment and faith into a lasting legacy.
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