The intensive manhunt launched in response to the tragic mass shooting in the Kwanobuhle township of the Eastern Cape province has yielded significant progress, as police successfully apprehended five suspects in connection with the heinous crime.
Kwanobuhle mass shooting suspects arrested: Here’s everything we know
The shooting occurred on Tuesday evening, shocking the community and leaving six individuals dead, with an additional four sustaining injuries.
According to police, three unidentified men entered a yard on Mdledle Street in Kwanobuhle at approximately 19:40, opening fire and causing the devastating loss of life.
Two women were shot near the entrance gate, tragically resulting in the death of one of them.
The injured victims were promptly transported to the hospital for medical treatment. Authorities suspect that the incident may be drug-related, but investigations are ongoing to establish a clearer motive.
In response to the incident, Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene expressed her appreciation for the dedicated task team that swiftly and diligently pursued leads to apprehend the suspects involved in the Kwanobuhle mass shooting.
The task team, composed of the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, Provincial Crime Intelligence, Tactical Response Team, National Intervention Unit (NIU), and Anti-Gang Unit, achieved a major breakthrough with the arrest of five individuals in the early hours of Thursday, 13 July 2023.
The suspects, aged between 21 and 34 years old, were apprehended in Kwanobuhle and Arcadia, located in the Bethelsdorp area.
The arrested individuals face charges of murder (six counts) and attempted murder (four counts). They are expected to appear in the Kwanobuhle magistrate court in the near future as legal proceedings commence.
The Kwanobuhle mass shooting adds to the distressing number of murders recorded annually in South Africa, with approximately 20,000 reported cases within a population of 60 million.