Seventeen Killed in Twin Mass Shootings in South Africa’s Eastern Cape

Seventeen people, including 15 women, lost their lives in two separate but related mass shootings in the rural town of Lusikisiki in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, authorities reported on Saturday. Among the victims were 15 women and two men, with one other individual critically injured and currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

South African national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, confirmed that a manhunt had been launched to apprehend the suspects responsible for these tragic killings. The shootings occurred late Friday night in two homes within the same neighborhood on the outskirts of Lusikisiki. The first incident claimed the lives of 12 women and a man, while the second shooting left three women and one man dead. Miraculously, four women, one man, and a 2-month-old baby survived the attacks.

Local reports suggest that the victims were attending a family gathering when the shootings took place, though authorities have not yet determined a motive for the killings. Speaking to the press on Saturday, South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu stated that a specialized team of detectives and forensic experts had been deployed to investigate the case. He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice. “They can either surrender themselves, or we will find them,” Mchunu firmly asserted.

Mass shootings in South Africa have become more frequent in recent years, often occurring in residential settings. The country, with a population of approximately 62 million, recorded 12,734 homicides in the first half of 2024 alone, equating to over 70 murders per day. Firearms, many of which are unregistered and illegal, remain the primary cause of these deaths. Authorities have long highlighted the circulation of illicit guns as a significant issue contributing to the high crime rate.

This latest tragedy echoes a similarly brutal incident from April 2023 in KwaZulu-Natal province, where 10 members of the same family, including seven women and a 13-year-old boy, were killed in their home during a mass shooting. Despite South Africa’s relatively stringent firearm regulations, the abundance of illegal firearms continues to plague the nation.