South African police have arrested a 32-year-old man linked to a mass shooting that killed 12 people, including three children, near Pretoria.
The attack occurred earlier this month at an unlicensed tavern in Saulsville township, where gunmen opened fire on unsuspecting patrons.
Police say the suspect is believed to be one of three attackers responsible for the deadly burst of violence.
Among the victims were children aged three, 12 and 16, underscoring the brutal reach of gun crime.
At least 13 other people were wounded, while investigators continue to search for a motive behind the killings.
The suspect was arrested on Sunday while travelling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 kilometres from the crime scene.
Officers intercepted his vehicle on a regional road and recovered an unlicensed handgun believed to have been used in the attack.
Police said the weapon will undergo forensic and ballistic testing to confirm its link to the multiple murders.
The arrest came on the same day as another mass shooting at a tavern near Johannesburg, where nine people were killed.
That separate attack in Bekkersdal township left 10 others injured, with the perpetrators still at large.
South Africa continues to grapple with severe gun violence, recording more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 alone.
Although gun laws are relatively strict, authorities say illegal firearms fuel most killings across the country.
Police warn that violence at unlicensed bars is rising, despite thousands of illegal taverns being shut down this year.