South African police have launched a manhunt following a brutal attack in the rural town of Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, where 17 people, including 15 women, were killed in two houses situated near each other. The attack, which took place on Friday night, has intensified concerns over rising mass shootings in the country.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed the incident and stated that the search for suspects is underway. Video footage released by police showed the killings occurred in two adjacent homes on the outskirts of Lusikisiki, a small town marked by scattered rural homesteads.
Twelve women and one man were killed in one house, while three women and one man lost their lives in the second. Survivors of the attack include four women, a man, and a two-month-old baby. Reports suggest the victims were attending a family gathering when the shooting occurred. However, the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu assured the public that a dedicated team of detectives and forensic experts had been deployed to bring the perpetrators to justice. “We have full faith and confidence in the team. Either they hand themselves over, or we will fetch them ourselves,” Mchunu said. National police chief Fannie Masemola added that the authorities are still determining whether there is one or multiple suspects on the run.
South Africa has experienced an alarming rise in homicides and mass shootings in recent years. Official statistics show that 12,734 homicides were recorded in the first six months of this year alone, with firearms being the leading cause of death. This averages out to more than 70 murders per day in a nation of 62 million people.
Mass shootings have become disturbingly frequent, often targeting people in their homes. Earlier this year, ten members of the same family, including seven women and a 13-year-old boy, were killed in a mass shooting at their home in the neighboring province of KwaZulu-Natal.
While South Africa has relatively strict firearm laws, the proliferation of illegal and unregistered guns has been cited as a major contributor to the rising violence. Authorities continue to struggle with the sheer number of unlicensed firearms in circulation, which are often linked to both organized crime and personal disputes.
This latest incident has left the Lusikisiki community in shock, as residents grapple with the horror of yet another mass killing. Police are urging anyone with information to come forward, as the country once again faces the grim reality of its violent crime epidemic.
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