A manhunt has been launched in South Africa after 17 people, including 15 women, were killed in a mass shooting in a rural town in the southeast of the country. The incident occurred on Friday night in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape province. The victims were attending a family gathering at two houses in the same neighbourhood when they were attacked. Four women, one man, and a two-month-old baby survived the attack.
Authorities are currently searching for the suspects responsible for the mass shooting. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu stated that a team of detectives and forensic experts had been deployed to crack the case and apprehend the perpetrators. The motives for the killings are unknown, and it is unclear whether there is one or several suspects on the run.
South Africa has seen a significant increase in mass shootings in recent years, with firearms being the leading cause of death in many cases. Strict firearm laws are in place in the country, but the prevalence of illegal, unregistered guns remains a major challenge for authorities.
The incident in Lusikisiki is the latest in a series of mass shootings in South Africa, including a tragic attack in April 2023 where ten members of the same family were killed in KwaZulu-Natal province. With the country recording an average of more than 70 homicides a day, the escalation of these violent incidents has raised concerns about public safety and the need for stringent measures to address the issue of gun violence.
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