Manhunt launched after mass shooting of 18 people in South Africa | World News

18 people have been killed in a mass shooting in the remote South African town of Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape.

Two farms on the same street were the source of the violence, with twelve women and a man killed at one location and three women and a man killed at a second location.

The 18th victim died in hospital on Sunday, South African police said.

Officials said the victims were relatives and neighbors in Nyathi village, Ngobozana in Lusikisik, although the motive for the shooting was still unknown.

According to South African media, the victims had gathered in their homes to prepare for the traditional mourning ceremony for a mother and daughter who were murdered a year ago.

According to media reports, they were packing goods and gifts when they were attacked.

“We heard shots and doors being kicked in,” Nomnikelo Ndlovu, one of the residents who managed to hide during the attack, told state broadcaster SABC.

“We tried to hide and three people were shot.” “We are still traumatized.”

In a statement on Saturday, the police minister said a total of 19 people were sleeping in two houses in the same yard at one of the shooting sites.

Mchunu added that there were six survivors at the homestead – four women, a man and a two-month-old child. A police spokesman previously said the child was uninjured but was taken to hospital as a precaution.

There were no survivors on the other farm.

Mchunu said a team of detectives and forensic experts, including crime scene managers from Pretoria, had been deployed to “clear everything up”. [the] “We must gather evidence to catch these brutal criminals.”

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, according to the latest figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

There were more than 27,000 murders in 2022 – that’s 45 people per 100,000 people out of a population of almost 60 million. In comparison, the rate in the United States is six per 100,000.

In a statement on Saturday, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said a total of 19 people were sleeping in two houses in the same yard at one of the shooting sites.

Mchunu added that there were six survivors at the homestead – four women, a man and a two-month-old child. A police spokesman previously said the child was uninjured but was taken to hospital as a precaution.

There were no survivors on the other farm.

Mchunu said a team of detectives and forensic experts, including crime scene managers from Pretoria, had been deployed to “clear everything up”. [the] “We must gather evidence to catch these brutal criminals.”

Mass shootings are common in South Africa, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

The country’s murder rate is at its highest level in 20 years.

According to recent police data, more than 6,000 people were murdered across the country between April and June this year.

The Police Department says more than 53,000 suspects wanted for violent crimes including murder were arrested and over 400 illegal and unregistered firearms were seized last month.

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