In a tragic incident, seventeen people, including 15 women, were killed in two mass shootings in the rural town of Lusikisiki in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province on Friday night. The police have launched a manhunt for the suspects involved, but no motive has been established yet.

The Shootings

The attacks occurred in two separate houses in the same neighborhood, a rural area on the outskirts of Lusikisiki. In the first house, 12 women and one man were killed, while three women and one man were found dead in the second house. One additional victim is currently in critical condition in a hospital. The police have not released any further details about the identity of the suspects or the reasons behind the killings. Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the national police spokesperson, confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway to apprehend those responsible.

Rising Violence in South Africa

Mass shootings have become increasingly common in South Africa, a country with one of the highest homicide rates in the world. South Africa’s homicide rate stands at around 45 per 100,000 people, far surpassing countries like the United States (6.3 per 100,000) and most of Europe (around 1 per 100,000). The country has recorded more than 27,000 homicides in the past year alone, averaging over 70 deaths a day.

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Previous Similar Incidents

This is not an isolated incident. Just last year, ten members of the same family, including seven women and a 13-year-old boy, were murdered in their home in KwaZulu-Natal province. Such events have become more frequent, raising serious concerns about the levels of violence in the country.

Gun Control Issues

Despite strict firearm laws, South Africa faces a severe issue with the presence of illegal guns in circulation. Authorities have long pointed to these unregistered firearms as a major factor contributing to the growing gun violence in the nation. The government has pledged to combat the illegal arms trade, but efforts have been hampered by the widespread availability of these weapons.

The Lusikisiki shootings have once again highlighted the dangerous rise in gun violence, leaving the local community in mourning and demanding swift justice.

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