Three nabbed after 18 family members massacred in South Africa’s Eastern Cape
South African police have arrested three suspects following the brutal massacre of 18 relatives in the remote town of Lusikisiki. The suspects were captured after an intense manhunt, with a fourth arrest expected soon, according to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
The arrests were confirmed during a memorial service for the victims, where emotions ran high. The family members, aged 14 to 64, were gunned down during a traditional ceremony, leaving the community in shock. The gruesome attack saw gunmen storming two homes, killing fifteen women and three men, with several victims shot execution-style in the head.
While police continue to piece together the motive behind the massacre, the killings have reignited calls for greater police protection in South Africa, a country grappling with one of the highest murder rates in the world. In 2022 alone, over 27,000 murders were recorded—an alarming 45 per 100,000 people, compared to the US rate of six per 100,000.
The chilling incident has also intensified demands to address gender-based violence, as South Africa struggles with high femicide rates. Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Letsike, who attended the memorial, urged civil society, traditional leaders, and government officials to unite and raise the bar in combating violence against women.
