In a horrific act of violence that has shaken the rural community of Lusikisiki, a 42-year-old man is on the run after allegedly murdering his pregnant girlfriend and then shooting his wife as she slept beside their grandchildren.
The tragedy unfolded in Unity Park village, just kilometers away from Ngobozana village, where 18 people were massacred last year in a case that remains unresolved. As South Africa commemorates Women’s Month, the latest incident has reignited outrage over the scourge of gun violence plaguing rural Eastern Cape.
A Night of Terror
According to witnesses, the suspect first attacked his 22-year-old pregnant girlfriend at a local tavern after she reportedly tried to leave the relationship. After shooting her, he allegedly returned home and opened fire on his sleeping wife before fleeing in one of her vehicles. The car was later found abandoned on a gravel road after running out of fuel, but the suspect remains at large.
Police confirm he is armed and dangerous, though his identity has not yet been released. Family members who attempted to persuade him to surrender say he warned them he still had bullets and refused to turn himself in.
A Community Living in Fear
Residents say gun violence has become alarmingly common in the area, with illegal firearms circulating freely. “It’s become normal to hear gunshots at night,” one community member told reporters.
Local leaders and activists are calling for urgent intervention, citing poor policing and the proliferation of illegal weapons. A Ward Councilor emphasized the need for stricter firearm regulations and community crime prevention programs.
Echoes of Past Tragedies
The attack comes nearly a year after the Ngobozana tavern massacre, where 18 people were gunned down in a mass shooting. That case, still before the courts, had already highlighted the Eastern Cape’s struggle with rural gun violence.
As police continue their manhunt, the families of the victims are left grieving, with burial arrangements yet to be made. Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward, warning that the suspect remains armed and a threat to the community.
