A mass shooting in South Africa left six people dead and four wounded when three men entered the yard of a home and opened fire, police said Wednesday. South Africa has seen a series of crimes and killings recently. Most of those killed were shot or stabbed with a knife.
The shooting happened Tuesday night in the township of Kwanobuhle near Kariega in the Eastern Cape province. The suspects have not been arrested, and a search is underway, police said.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. At least 2,629 people were killed with a firearm in the first three months of this year, according to official crime statistics. That's 30 people a day.
Community where the shooting happened
Police said five men and a woman were killed in Tuesday’s shooting, and a woman was wounded.
“It is alleged that three unknown males entered the yard and opened fire at people on the property or nearby the house,” said police spokesperson Col. Priscilla Naidu. “Two females were shot at the gate. One female succumbed to her injuries, while the other sustained gunshot wounds.” Police said the shooting motive is unclear.
There have been several mass shootings in South Africa recently, including at least three this year before Tuesday. Eight people were fatally shot at a birthday party in the same Eastern Cape province in January. A child was among 10 family members killed in a house in April. Eight people were killed when gunmen burst into a men’s hostel and shot at the occupants last month.
Last year, 16 people were killed in the township of Soweto in Johannesburg after numerous gunmen shot at people in a bar. This is an issue that needs to be tackled well by the government of South Africa. Though the police chief has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, they are working tirelessly to combat such crimes.
Source APNews
