17 People Killed In Mass Shooting In South Africa's Eastern Cape Province

At least 17 people were killed in mass shootings between two groups of people in close proximity to a village in South Africa's Eastern Cape province on Saturday. The South African police said that several police teams have launched a manhunt to nab the suspects involved in the crime. The police said in a statement that the shootings occurred in two separate homes in the village of Lusikisiki and that in total, 15 women and two men had been killed. Apart from 17 dead, one other person has sustained severe injuries and has been hospitalised. 

A search was underway for the suspects, national police spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe said in a statement. As per reports, the shootings took place Friday night in the town of Lusikisiki in Eastern Cape province in southeastern South Africa. Video released by police showed that the shootings occurred at two houses in the same neighbourhood, which is a collection of rural homesteads on the outskirts of the town.

Police Are Searching For Culprits

Twelve women and a man were killed in one house and three women and a man were killed in the other house, police said, adding that four women, one man and a 2-month-old baby survived. “A manhunt has been launched to apprehend those behind these heinous killings,” Mathe said.

Local media reported that the people were attending a family gathering at the time of the shooting, but the motive for the killings remains unknown.

Police minister Senzo Mchunu told a media briefing on Saturday that a team of detectives and forensic experts had been deployed.

“We have full faith and confidence in the team that has been deployed to crack this case and find these criminals. Either they hand themselves over or we will fetch them ourselves,” Mchunu said.

South Africa, a country of 62 million, recorded 12,734 homicides in the first six months of this year, according to official crime statistics from the police. That’s an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the biggest cause of death in those cases.

Mass shootings have become increasingly common in recent years, sometimes targeting people in their homes

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 neighbouring KwaZulu-Natal province in April 2023.

Firearm laws are reasonably strict in South Africa, but authorities have often pointed to the large number of illegal, unregistered guns in circulation as a major problem.

Further details regarding the shooting incident are being awaited.