Seventeen people have been killed in a mass shooting in Lusikisiki, a remote town in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, as police launch a manhunt to track down the perpetrators.
According to authorities, two separate homesteads in Nyathi village, Ngobozana, were attacked. In one location, 12 women and one man were shot dead, while three women and one man were killed at a second site. An 18th victim remains in critical condition in the hospital.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) stated that the victims were relatives and neighbours who had gathered to prepare for a traditional mourning ceremony.
The ceremony was intended to honour a mother and daughter who had been murdered a year earlier. Local reports indicate the victims were packing items, including furniture and presents, when the gunmen struck on Friday night.
Ingquza Hill Mayor Nonkosi Pepping described the horrifying scene, stating, “The gunmen came and shot randomly, killing everyone. Women and children were also among the victims.” The mayor added that the incident has left the community in fear.
The police minister, Senzo Mchunu, and the police commissioner are expected to provide an update on the situation later today, with Mchunu scheduled to visit the area where the attack took place.
Despite the brutality of the attack, authorities have yet to identify a motive or make any arrests. The crime has been described by officials as both “gruesome” and “senseless.”
South Africa, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world, saw more than 27,000 murders in 2022, equating to 45 per 100,000 people, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
