Five people were killed and two children injured in a new shooting in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, local police said Saturday.
Eastern Cape police said the killing occurred at around 8.30pm on Friday in Biti, Nchenjana, Mtentu administrative district, on the outskirts of Mtata. All the victims were from the same family.
The incident occurred just over a week after six people were shot dead in Khumbu and less than a month after 18 people were brutally murdered in Lusikisiki. Both are in the same state.
State police spokesperson Siphokazi Mawisa said in a statement that according to information on hand, the family was sleeping in two different houses in the garden. While her parents were sleeping in the rondavel, two unknown men broke in and shot them to death.
The two men then jumped out of the rondavel and opened fire on people sleeping in another house, killing three people and wounding two others. The two surviving children managed to escape and alerted a neighbor, who then called the police.
“Two men and three women died while two injured children were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment,” Mawisa said, according to Xinhua news agency.
In a statement, Eastern Cape Chief Secretary Nomseteleli Mene condemned “such heinous acts” and mobilized “all available resources” to find the culprits.
“I have directed my team of experienced detectives to work hard and work tirelessly until the perpetrators of this senseless murder are brought to justice,” Mene said.
“Police are investigating five counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. South African Police are appealing to anyone who may have clues to come forward and help police arrest the mastermind behind the murders. We call on you to support us,” the statement added.
