ActionSA has raised alarm over revelations that one of the suspects linked to the mass killing of 12 people in Saulsville, west of Pretoria, is a recently released parolee. The party says the development exposes what it describes as the government’s “weak approach” to criminal justice and parole management.
This follows confirmation by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, who on Monday visited the crime scene at the Saulsville hostel where the shooting took place in the early hours of Saturday morning. The attack occurred at about 4 am at an illegal shebeen inside the hostel premises, where three gunmen allegedly stormed in and opened fire on patrons.
Masemola said police had positively identified the three suspects behind the mass shooting and confirmed that one of them had been released on parole just three months ago.
“The parolee came out of jail in September 2025,” he said. “We are still verifying the full conviction in terms of charges, but there is attempted murder and extortion-related crimes.”
The shooting left 12 people dead and 14 others wounded. Among the deceased are three minors: a three-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy, and a 16-year-old girl. Eight members of the Khanyile family are among the injured, and the family also lost the three children in the attack.
Masemola said police were still analysing information to determine the motive behind the killings.
“We have an idea of what may have led to the shooting,” he noted, adding that officers were gathering intelligence and piecing together details received from community members and witnesses.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched a manhunt for the three suspects and opened 12 counts of murder and 14 counts of attempted murder.
ActionSA said the incident reflected ongoing systemic failures. In a statement issued by Member of Parliament Dereleen James, the party said, “This is yet another example of how weak protocols within our justice system enable violent criminals to re-enter communities they should never have been allowed near.”
The party argued that South Africans remained vulnerable because “the justice system, which is meant to protect law-abiding citizens, far too often extends grace to individuals who have shown a complete disregard for human life.”
ActionSA reiterated its position that serious offenders should not qualify for parole.
“We believe we must overhaul our parole system so that we leave no room for those who commit the most serious offences to have a single repeated opportunity to reoffend,” James said. “To ActionSA, the rights of violent criminals will always come second to the safety and security of law-abiding South Africans.”
SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that additional people were also injured during the shooting, adding that police were interviewing survivors and witnesses as part of the ongoing investigation.
As the country enters the festive season, the massacre has intensified concerns about rising violent crime and the return of high-risk offenders into communities. Police have appealed to the public to assist with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
