By Amy Musgrave
The mass killings in the Eastern Cape that have been condemned across the board, with Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police saying that the police must do everything in its power to apprehend the murderers.
The country is shock following 17 people dying in two shooting incidents at two homesteads on the same road in Ngobozana village near Lusikiski.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu told reporters on Saturday that at the first homestead, four people were shot dead and there we no survivors. At the second homestead, there were 19 people in two houses in the same yard. Thirteen people were shot dead, while six survived including a baby.
Committee chairperson Ian Cameron condemned the mass shootings in the strongest terms.
“The South African Police Service must mobilise all necessary resources to ensure that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are brought to book. Only effective prosecution can serve as an indication that as a society we do not accept any act of violence and murder,” Cameron said in a statement.
He said the killings were also worrying when the majority of those gunned down were women.
The continuing killing of women in the country was beyond crisis levels and required urgent, aggressive and innovative actionable plans, Cameron said.
He also called on community members to share information with the police to ensure the speedy arrest and prosecution of the criminals, saying community collaboration was essential in the fight against crime.
Police are yet to establish the motive for the mass killings.
INSIDE POLITICS
