Seventeen people have been killed in a mass shooting in a remote South African town, with a manhunt now underway for the attackers, according to police.
The incidents occurred at two homesteads in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape. At one site, 12 women and one man were killed, while at another, three women and one man lost their lives. An 18th person is in critical condition in the hospital, as reported by the South African Police Service.
Police ministers and the commissioner will hold a national briefing. Local media indicates that the victims were relatives and neighbors in Nyathi village, Ngobozana, who had gathered for a traditional mourning ceremony when the shooting happened on Friday night.
Local mayor Nonkosi Pepping described the scene, stating, “The gunmen came and shot randomly, killing everyone, including women and children. This has left the community terrified.”
