Seventeen individuals tragically lost their lives in a mass shooting in the remote town of Lusikisiki, located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Authorities have initiated a manhunt to locate the shooters responsible for this devastating event.
The police reported that two homesteads were attacked, resulting in the deaths of 12 women and one man at one location, while three women and one man were killed at a second site. Additionally, an 18th victim remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
In light of the incident, the police minister is set to visit the affected area to assess the situation. Local reports indicate that the victims were relatives and neighbors from Nyathi village in Ngobozana, who had gathered to prepare for a traditional mourning ceremony honoring a mother and daughter murdered a year prior. During the attack on Friday night, they were packing goods and presents, including furniture, for the ceremony.
Local officials described the scene as chaotic, with witnesses reporting that the gunmen fired indiscriminately, leaving the community in fear. Emergency services confirmed that a total of 19 people were sleeping at one of the targeted homes, with six survivors, including a two-month-old child who was unharmed but taken to the hospital for safety.
Law enforcement has yet to establish a motive or make any arrests. A team of detectives is already on-site, with additional experts arriving from Pretoria to gather evidence and assist in the investigation.
Community safety officials expressed hope for the critically injured man’s swift recovery, emphasizing that his insights could provide crucial information about the assault. There are indications that the attackers may have had a prior relationship with the victims.
South Africa continues to grapple with a high murder rate, with over 27,000 recorded homicides in 2022, translating to a staggering 45 murders per 100,000 citizens in a population nearing 60 million. This rate starkly contrasts with the USA, which has a murder rate of six per 100,000 people.
