14 Oct 2022 | 09:34 AM UTC
South Africa: Multiple casualties from series of shootings near Gqeberha, Oct. 13
Multiple casualties from a series of shootings in Kwanobuhle, near Gqeberha, South Africa, Oct. 13.
Event
Eight people were reportedly killed, and one injured, in two separate incidents in Kwanobuhle, near Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), in Eastern Cape Province, Oct. 13. The victims, all male aged 18-40, were shot by unknown assailants around 11:45-12:10, and were found within 700m of each other. The motives for the shootings are yet unknown, but police suspect both shootings to be linked. Kwanobuhle is a lower-income area located approximately 26km (16 miles) northwest of Gqeberha.
Officials are likely to deploy additional security personnel to Kwanobuhle in the coming days. Further violence, including retaliatory action, is possible.
Context
Violent crime is a nationwide threat in South Africa, including in Eastern Cape Province. Within Gqeberha, violent crimes are regularly reported in the city's lower-income neighborhoods, where the threat from such incidents is elevated.
In the second quarter of 2022, the Eastern Cape registered the third-highest murder rate in the country, with 117 murders April-June. More broadly, reported murders in South Africa had increased 11.5 percent compared with the same period last year, with 6,424 people killed during the same period.
Advice
Exercise caution in high crime threat locations. Liaise with trusted contacts for updates before travel. Consider avoiding unnecessary travel at night. Ensure that personal safety, travel and residential/business office security measures are regularly reviewed.
