Saulsville, Pretoria (Image: Getty)

A predawn burst of gunfire tore through Saulsville Hostel in Atteridgeville on Sunday, leaving ten people dead and more than ten others fighting for their lives in hospital.

The shooting, which erupted around 4am, drew a heavy emergency response and senior police officials to the scene.

“At least 10 people were killed… more than 10 were injured,” SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed, adding that District Commissioner Major Gen. Thine was overseeing the investigation.

The tragedy adds to a grim pattern. South Africa remains one of the world’s most gun-affected nations, struggling with illegal weapons, organised crime and deeply entrenched cycles of violence.

Communities find themselves caught between calls for tougher firearm laws a

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