Home News Manhunt Launched After Mass Shooting in South Africa’s Eastern Cape
News

Manhunt Launched After Mass Shooting in South Africa’s Eastern Cape

Share
Share

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.

Share

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don't Miss

100 Reputable Women of African Descent 2025: Mrs. Salamatu Farouq Yahaya – Transformational Leader and Advocate for Excellence

Mrs. Salamatu Farouq Yahaya MCIPM is a dynamic leadership expert, human resource professional, and consultant dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve...

100 Reputable Women of African Descent 2025: Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq Shines as an Advocate for Social Development and Women Empowerment

Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the First Lady of Kwara State in North Central Nigeria, is a dedicated public servant, philanthropist, and champion of social...

Related Articles

Zambian President Warns Ministers Against Sleeping in Cabinet Meetings

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has issued a stern warning to ministers caught...

Why British Boarding Schools Are Expanding into Nigeria

For decades, wealthy Nigerian families have sent their children to elite British...

Zimbabwe Police Arrest 95 Protesters Amid Political Unrest

Zimbabwean police have arrested 95 demonstrators on charges of inciting public violence...

UN Warns of Potential Rebel Expansion in DRC Backed by Rwanda

Rwanda-Backed Rebels Expand Control in Eastern Congo, UN Warns of Wider Offensive...