17 People, including 15 Women, Killed in Twin Mass Shootings at Family Gathering in Lusikisik, South Africa; Police Launch Manhunt for Suspects
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
4 minutes read. Updated 6:34AM GMT Sat, 28 September, 2024
In a horrific wave of violence, two mass shootings in Lusikisiki, a rural town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, claimed the lives of 17 people, including 15 women, on Friday night. The South African police have launched a manhunt for the suspects responsible for these tragic killings.
According to Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the national police spokesperson, the victims of this heinous crime were 15 women and two men. Another individual is currently in critical condition at a local hospital. The shootings took place in two separate homes located within close proximity in the same neighborhood, highlighting the terrifying nature of these coordinated attacks.
The first attack claimed the lives of 12 women and one man, while three women and another man were killed in the second house. Four women, a man, and a two-month-old baby survived the shootings, though the aftermath of this traumatic event will undoubtedly leave emotional scars on the community.
A search for the perpetrators is currently underway. Brigadier Mathe confirmed that detectives and forensic experts have been deployed to investigate the crime scene, and a full inquiry is ongoing. “A manhunt has been launched to apprehend those behind these heinous killings,” Mathe stated, as police continued their efforts to bring the attackers to justice.
Reports suggest that the victims were attending a family gathering, though the motive for the attack remains unclear. In a statement addressing the incident, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu expressed confidence in the task force assigned to the case. “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 declared during a press briefing on Saturday.
The violence in Lusikisiki mirrors a disturbing trend of rising mass shootings in South Africa. The country, with a population of 62 million, has been grappling with alarming homicide rates. According to official crime statistics, South Africa recorded 12,734 homicides in just the first half of this year—an average of more than 70 deaths per day. Firearms are responsible for the majority of these killings, fueling calls for tighter control of illegal weapons.
The illegal circulation of firearms has been a persistent issue, despite South Africa’s relatively strict gun laws. Authorities have long pointed to unregistered weapons as a major factor behind the country’s soaring homicide rates. This isn’t the first time the nation has witnessed such brutal attacks. In April 2023, ten members of the same family, including seven women and a 13-year-old boy, were gunned down in a mass shooting in KwaZulu-Natal province, which borders Eastern Cape.
As Lusikisiki residents mourn the loss of their loved ones, the community remains in shock. The brutality of these attacks has further raised concerns about the safety of rural areas in South Africa, where law enforcement resources are often stretched thin.
South Africa’s ongoing struggle with violent crime, illegal firearms, and mass shootings is forcing both authorities and the public to grapple with a deeply rooted crisis.
Meta Description: Two mass shootings in Lusikisiki, South Africa, leave 17 dead, including 15 women. Police launch a manhunt for the suspects in this rural community
