In an incident at a taxi stand in a coastal town in South Africa on Tuesday, July 25, four people were killed while sitting in a minibus, and four people were injured.
The motives behind the attackers’ actions remain unknown, increasing this year’s count of mass shootings in the country to 36.
South Africa, with its population of 60 million, faces a significant challenge with its high homicide rate, which is among the highest globally. Police statistics reveal that the first three months of 2023 witnessed an average of 30 daily firearm-related deaths.
The tragic event on Tuesday resembled previous attacks, featuring multiple gunmen indiscriminately targeting people. As confirmed by police spokesperson Brig. Jay Naicker, the gunmen opened fire on a taxi minibus in the east coast town of Port Shepstone. The attack resulted in the death of four passengers and left four others with gunshot wounds, who are now undergoing treatment at a hospital.
In another mass shooting event last April, armed assailants launched an ambush on a home during the early hours, leading to the deaths of ten family members, including seven women and a 13-year-old boy.
Even though many of these incidents involve illegal firearms, they underscore South Africa’s broader high crime rate, extending beyond gun-related offenses.