BREAKING | 17 people gunned down in Eastern Cape mass shooting

A devastating mass shooting in an Eastern Cape village has left 17 people dead and three critically injured.

The victims were gunned down in Ngobozana village in Lusikisiki in the early hours of Saturday.

The gunmen pounced on two homesteads in the same street. 

According to police, at the first homestead, four people were shot dead with no survivors while at the second homestead, where there were 19 people in two separate houses in the same yard, 13 people were shot dead. 

Six people — four women, one man and a two-month-old baby —  survived. Fifteen women and two men were killed.

The victims were preparing for a traditional ritual, umembulo or ukukhululwa kwezila, scheduled for Saturday at MaNtlaneni village, also in Lusikisiki, to mark the end of mourning of a mother and daughter murdered a year ago.

The group had gathered to pack goods and presents for the event when the shooting occurred.

Lusikisiki gender-based violence activist Khwalo Matandabuzo confirmed the incident.

“This is a disaster. This is shocking,” Matandabuzo said.

“This has left us devastated and feeling in shock.

“I have never heard of so many people shot and killed in one go, 17 people shot dead just like that in one incident! This is so sad!”

Ingquza Hill mayor Nonkosi Pepping  described the mass shooting as “gruesome”.

“This happened as the crime in Lusikisiki was decreasing nicely and was not more featured in the top areas with murders and rape,” she said.

“Now this is spoiling all those efforts and gains. Other than the start this is all about the huge number of lost lives of the families. This may not be only one family, but relatives and neighbours and each family has lost many loved ones.” 

Pepping said the incident was “so bad and scary”.

“The gunmen came and shot randomly killing everyone ... women and children were also killed in the bloody shooting. This has left the community terrified,” she said.

The mayor sent a message of condolences to the bereaved families and speedy recovery to those injured.

“We trust the police will soon crack the case and arrest those heartless criminals who showed no regard for human life. The sooner they are arrested the better for all of us,” she said.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said a manhunt was under way to apprehend those responsible for the killings.

Eastern Cape community safety MEC Xolile Nqatha vowed that police would leave no stone unturned to apprehend the culprits.  

“We urge communities to use the recently launched hotline number 082-387-1561 to report crime incidents,” he said.

Political parties have  strongly condemned  the “barbaric act”.

The ANC in the Eastern Cape has urged law enforcement agencies to work tirelessly to apprehend the  perpetrators.

“We also call on community members to assist the authorities in tracing these murderers, ensuring they face justice for their gutless and wicked acts,” ANC provincial communications head Gift Ngqondi said.

“The full force of the law must be applied to guarantee justice for the victims and their families.”

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) said the targeting of women and vulnerable individuals reflected a deep-seated societal malaise that should be addressed with urgency and determination.

ATM national spokesperson Zama Ntshona said the investigation should extend beyond the immediate perpetrators to uncover any ringleaders orchestrating “the acts of brutality”. 

“We urge the communities of Lusikisiki to stand together in solidarity against this brutality by providing all information to the authorities that could lead to the apprehension of these criminals,” he said.

“We implore community members not to protect these offenders and to feel empowered to share credible information that could result in life sentences without the possibility of parole.

“We cannot be subjected to a life of fear; this must come to an end.”

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