Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane says the government is struggling to find the right words as mass killings in the province continue to rise.
His latest statement comes after five family members were shot and killed on Friday night in Ncenjana Location, Bhityi, near Mthatha.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa said the family was asleep in two separate houses when gunmen attacked.
“The parents, a husband and wife, were sleeping in a rondavel when two unknown men entered and fatally shot them,” Mawisa said. “They then exited the rondavel and began firing shots at people sleeping in another house, fatally shooting three and leaving two injured.”
Two children survived the attack by escaping and alerting neighbours, who called the police. Two men and three women were killed, and the two injured children were taken to a nearby hospital.
This is the third mass shooting in the province in less than a month.
On 28 September, 18 people were killed in Lusikisiki. Most of the victims were from the Sinqina-Mhatu families, who had gathered for a traditional ritual after two family members were killed in August.
Before the community could recover from that, six stock theft patrollers were shot and killed in Qumbu, with four others injured.
Premier Mabuyane was attending their funeral when he heard about the Bhityi shooting. He later visited the family of the latest victims.
“It’s becoming a very traumatic experience even for us as leaders in this province. Police are doing their level best, and the provincial Commissioner has assured me they are putting together a multifaceted kind of team… that must make sure this is brought to an end, and we are going to work with the police. Clearly, we need to get rid of guns that are in these households,” Mabuyane said.
Community MEC Xolile Nqata asked the community to work with the police by reporting criminals so that they could be arrested.
Pictured above: Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane visiting the family of the latest victims of mass killings in Bhityi, outside Mthatha on Saturday.
Source: EC Premier’s Office
