Death toll from mass shooting in Lusikisiki rises as hunt for gunmen continues

The death toll from Lusikisiki mass shootings now stands at 18.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed that the eighteenth victim died in hospital on Sunday.

“There are no other new developments. However, a police investigation is underway.

Watch as some of the family members whose members were murdered are now in safe places.

Some of the family members whose 17 members were brutally killed in a mass shooting in Ngobozana, near Lusikisiki in CE, are now in safe places. Family spokesperson Monwabisi Sinqina said they also wanted the government to help them demolish the houses where the incident occurred… pic.twitter.com/tOmHzgPrtI

– Newzroom Africa (@Newzroom405) September 29, 2024

On Saturday, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said the motive for the mass shooting in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape province was still unknown.

“Senseless murders”

Mchunu said investigations were ongoing and described the killings as “senseless”.

“Forensic investigators and other specialist investigators who normally do the work hope that we will find clues to the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. We will spare no time and bring them to justice.

“The number of people who have died is intolerably high, so we are already talking about a massacre. This is a serious incident and these people (suspects) cannot escape justice,” Mchunu said.

ALSO READ: Police investigate motive behind ‘senseless’ mass murder in Eastern Cape (VIDEO)

Manhunt

Mchunu added that the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, had mobilized maximum resources to ensure that the killers were found.

He promised that the police would spare no effort in searching for the attackers.

“The National Commissioner has deployed a dedicated team of detectives and forensic experts, including crime scene officials from Pretoria, to gather all the evidence in a bid to apprehend these brutal criminals.

“We have full confidence in the team that was deployed to solve this case and find these criminals. Either they surrender or we collect them ourselves,” Mchunu said.

Mchunu said investigations were ongoing and described the killings as “senseless”.

Mass shooting

The attacks are believed to have taken place on Friday evening in two separate houses in the village of Ngobozana.

Police said that in one house 13 people were killed, including twelve women and one man.

On another farm, four people were also killed. The eighteenth victim was initially in critical condition in hospital.

ALSO READ: Fifteen women and two men killed in Eastern Cape mass shooting