John AdoyiSouth African police authorities have launched a manhunt for suspects involved in the brutal killings of 17 people in Lusikisiki, a town in the Eastern Cape province.
The mass shootings took place on Friday night in two separate homes located on the outskirts of the town, police confirmed.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to a statement from the South African Police Service (SAPS), 12 women and a man were killed in one house, while three women and a man were killed in a neighboring home. In total, 15 women and two men lost their lives, and an 18th victim remains in critical condition in a hospital, said SAPS national spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.
“The South African Police Service has launched an extensive search to bring those responsible for these brutal killings to justice,” Mathe said in a statement on Saturday, pledging that law enforcement is “committed to ensuring the safety and security of our communities.”
The motive behind the killings remains unclear as search for the assailants continue.
READ ALSO: South African women’s group trains police to respond to gender-based violence
The Premier of the Eastern Cape province, Oscar Mabuyane, condemning the act, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy.
“The loss of life on this scale is a devastating blow to our province, and we mourn the passing of these innocent lives. We stand in solidarity with the families and communities affected,” Mabuyane said. He urged residents to unite in condemning the violence, calling the killings a “heinous act that has no place in our society.”
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates globally, and mass shootings have become disturbingly frequent. The country records around 20,000 murders annually. Data from 2017/18 to 2019/20 shows that police reported 314 incidents where three or more people were killed in a single attack. In early September 2024, seven members of the same family, including three children, were gunned down.
In 2023, seven women and three men, all from the same family, were fatally shot near Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal. In 2022, 16 people were killed in a tavern shooting in Gauteng province.
