Mass Shootings in Rural South Africa Claim 17 Lives, Including 15 Women

Seventeen people, including 15 women, were killed in two mass shootings in Lusikisiki, a rural town in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, on Friday night. According to police, the shootings took place at two homes located in the same neighborhood. The victims included 12 women and one man in one house, and three women and one man in the other. A 2-month-old baby, four women, and one man survived the attacks, but one person remains in critical condition.

South African police are conducting a search for the suspects, with national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe stating, “A manhunt has been launched to apprehend those behind these heinous killings.” The motive behind the shootings is still unknown, though local media reported that the victims had been attending a family gathering at the time.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, speaking at a press briefing, announced that a team of detectives and forensic experts has been deployed to investigate. Mchunu stressed, “We have full faith and confidence in the team. Either they hand themselves over, or we will fetch them ourselves.”

South Africa has been grappling with increasing gun violence in recent years. According to police statistics, the country of 62 million recorded over 12,700 homicides in the first half of 2023, with firearms being the leading cause of death. Mass shootings have become more frequent, often targeting people in their homes. In April 2023, ten members of the same family were killed in a mass shooting in KwaZulu-Natal province, highlighting the growing problem of gun violence in the country.

Although South Africa has strict firearm laws, the availability of illegal and unregistered guns has contributed significantly to the rise in shootings. The authorities continue to face challenges in addressing the issue of illegal firearms, which pose a serious threat to public safety.