The shootings, which took place on Friday night, have spurred a nationwide manhunt for the culprits, according to national police spokesperson, Brig. Athlenda Mathe.

The victims included 15 women and two men, with another individual remaining in critical condition at a local hospital. Video footage released by the police showed that the murders occurred at two separate houses within the same neighborhood, a rural area composed of multiple homesteads located on the outskirts of the town.

Twelve women and one man were killed in one residence, while three women and one man were slain in the other. Remarkably, four women, a man, and a 2-month-old baby survived the harrowing incident. Although local media reported that the people were attending a family gathering during the shooting, the motive for the killings is still unknown.

In a media briefing, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that a specialized team of detectives and forensic experts has been deployed to investigate the case. "We have full faith and confidence in the team that has been dispatched to solve this case and capture those responsible. They can either surrender, or we will apprehend them ourselves," Mchunu stated.

South Africa, a country of 62 million people, grapples with a high homicide rate, recording 12,734 homicides in the first half of this year alone, which averages out to more than 70 murders per day. Firearms remain the leading cause of these deaths. Mass shootings, although increasingly common, often target individuals in their homes. For instance, in April 2023, ten members of a single family, including seven women and a 13-year-old boy, were killed in a mass shooting in the neighboring KwaZulu-Natal province.

Despite South Africa's stringent firearm laws, the proliferation of unregistered, illegal guns continues to be a significant issue, exacerbating the country’s violent crime problem.