CYRIL Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, has assured the families of the 18 people killed in the massacre at the Ngobozana village in Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape, that the police have mobilised maximum resources to arrest the killers.
In a special message, Ramaphosa offered his deep condolences to the families of 18 people who lost their lives. His office, in a statement, said the President’s thoughts were also with the survivors of the shootings which occurred in two attacks in the same street and in which most of the victims were women.
Ramaphosa said: “I feel deeply for all the families and members of the broader community affected by this attack and on behalf of all of us as South Africans, I offer you our deepest sympathies. While we are united in our grief, we are also united in our outrage and condemnation of this excessive criminal assault which will not go unpunished.
“The South African Police Service has proven its effectiveness in dealing with random and organised crime and I am confident the Lusikisiki case will be added to the successes recorded recently by our police service. Community members should therefore feel free to provide investigators with information that can help police apprehend the attackers and prepare a watertight case for our courts to process. We will not allow criminals to prevail.”
Ramaphosa assured the families of the deceased that the SAPS has mobilised maximum resources to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book. A team of specialist detectives and forensic science experts have been deployed to the crime scene to assist with the investigation. In addition, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and the national leadership of the South African Police Service are due to visit families and engage with residents on this tragedy.”
The “Lusikisiki Massacre” is the deadliest mass killing of women in a single location in the country’s history. Thirteen women were among the 18 victims of a brutal attack in the Eastern Cape province, sending shockwaves through the nation and prompting urgent calls for action against gender-based violence.
The massacre occurred in the village of Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape, where gunmen targeted two separate homes. The motive behind the attacks remains unclear, but the disproportionate number of female victims has raised concerns about targeted violence against women in a country already grappling with high rates of gender-based crimes.
The incident has also reignited debates about gun control and public safety in South Africa, which has one of the world’s highest murder rates. With approximately 20,000 murders recorded annually in a population of over 60 million, the government faces mounting pressure to implement effective strategies to combat violent crime.
As the manhunt intensifies, authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects. The SAPS has established a dedicated hotline for tips and is working closely with local communities to gather intelligence.
The massacre in Lusikisiki has cast a dark shadow over the nation, prompting calls for national mourning and renewed efforts to address the root causes of violence in South African society. As the investigation unfolds, the country watches with bated breath, hoping for swift justice for the victims and their families.
