Eight killed in mass shooting at birthday party in South Africa

Published 01/30/2023, 01:32 AM
Updated 01/30/2023, 10:36 AM

GQEBERHA, South Africa (Reuters) -Gunmen killed eight people and wounded three others at a birthday party in South Africa at the weekend before fleeing, police said.

Officers have given no indication of a motive for Sunday's shooting. The incident follows a spate of mass gun attacks last year that shocked the nation. In July, gunmen killed 19 people in random shootings within hours of each other.

"These victims were killed by criminals, and we will not rest until we find out what happened and who was responsible for (this) callous and cold-blooded attack on these unsuspecting victims," said Eastern Cape South African Police Service Commissioner Nomthetheleli Lillian Mene.

The shooting was carried out by two attackers on Sunday afternoon at a house in Kwazakele, Gqeberha, police said.

A family member, Chinese Tys, said her brothers Vusumzi and Andile Sishuba were celebrating Vusumzi's birthday when they were shot and killed.

"As the family we are in a state of shock and disbelief," she told Reuters.

Two of the injured people are still in hospital. The third wounded person was discharged.

South Africa has one of the world's highest murder rates, with around 20,000 people killed every year out of a population of 60 million.

© Reuters. Family members of the victims of a mass shooting at a birthday party that left eight dead, comfort one another at the scene during a visit by a high-level police delegation the day after the shooting in Kwazakhele, Gqeberha, South Africa. January 30, 2023. REUTERS/Deon Ferreira

According to campaign group Gun Free South Africa, there are about 3 million guns registered in the country, though there are many more unregistered.

Police Minister Bheki Cele visited the site of the shooting on Monday.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.