South African police have launched a manhunt following a mass shooting that left 17 people dead and one critically injured in the remote town of Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape province.
The attack, which occurred on Friday night, targeted two homesteads in Nyathi village, Ngobozana area of Lusikisiki. At one location, 12 women and one man were killed, while three women and one man lost their lives at the second site, according to the South Africa Police Service (SAPS).
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, SAPS spokesperson, told Newzroom Afrika that 19 people were sleeping in two homes at one of the shooting locations. Six survivors were reported at one homestead, including four women, a man, and an unharmed two-month-old child who was taken to hospital as a precaution. There were no survivors at the other homestead.
Local media reports suggest the victims were relatives and neighbors gathered to prepare for a traditional mourning ceremony commemorating a mother and daughter murdered a year ago. The group was reportedly packing goods and presents, including furniture, for the event when the attack occurred.
Ingquza Hill Mayor Nonkosi Pepping told Dispatch Live, “The gunmen came and shot randomly… This has left the community terrified.”
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is expected to visit the area where the attack took place. Authorities have yet to determine a motive or make any arrests.
Cabinet member for community safety, Xolile Nqatha, expressed hope for the recovery of the critically injured survivor, telling state broadcaster SABC, “His recovery can help us shed more light” on the shooting. Nqatha also suggested that the assailants may have been known to the victims.
Brigadier Mathe stated, “We have a team of detectives that is already on the ground. We have a team of experts coming in from Pretoria that are descending in Lusikisiki, to investigate, to collect all evidence with the aim of apprehending those [who] are behind these callous attacks.”
This tragic incident underscores South Africa’s ongoing struggle with violent crime. According to the latest figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the country has one of the highest murder rates globally. In 2022, there were over 27,000 murders, equating to 45 people per 100,000 in a population of almost 60 million. For comparison, the U.S. rate stands at six per 100,000.
bbc.com
