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Tragedy strikes Eastern Cape: six anti-crime patrollers gunned down in brutal attack

IN a shocking turn of events, six men who dedicated their lives to fighting crime in rural villages of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, have themselves fallen victim to the very scourge they sought to combat. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, October 6, 2024, has sent shockwaves through local communities and highlighted the escalating violence in the region.

The victims, all members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) – a unique structure established to foster collaboration between the South African Police Service and various communities – were ambushed at the Lugongozo Junior Secondary School in Tina Falls near Qumbu. According to reports, the men were preparing for their evening patrol when a group of at least eight armed assailants cornered and opened fire on them around 10:45 PM.

The brutal attack left six patrollers dead and four others injured, marking a dark day for community-led crime prevention efforts in the area. This tragedy comes barely a week after another horrific incident in the Eastern Cape, where 16 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives in a massacre in a village near Lusikisiki.

Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, the Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, strongly condemned the attack, stating, “We are deeply concerned that those who are working and assisting the police are being targeted and attacked. We will do our best to ensure that those behind this mass shooting are apprehended.”

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The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and the suspects are still at large. Authorities have mobilised maximum resources to investigate the incident and have urged the public to come forward with any information that could aid in the capture of the perpetrators.

In response to the escalating violence in the region, General Fannie Masemola, the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), is set to meet with high-ranking officials, including the Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection and the Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape. The meeting aims to address the recent spate of mass shootings and formulate a strategy to curb the rising tide of violence.

As the community grapples with this latest tragedy, questions arise about the safety of those who volunteer to protect their neighborhoods. The attack on the CPF members not only represents a loss of dedicated crime fighters but also strikes at the heart of community-led initiatives to create safer environments in rural areas.

The incident serves as a grim reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement and community volunteers in their quest to maintain peace and security in South Africa’s rural regions. As investigations continue, the nation watches closely, hoping for justice for the fallen patrollers and a resolution to the cycle of violence plaguing the Eastern Cape.

By The African Mirror

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