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 another four were injured.
The assailants’ motives remain unknown, adding to the toll of mass shootings in the nation since the beginning of the year, which now stands at 36.
South Africa, with a population of 60 million, has been struggling with a high homicide rate, ranking among the highest in the world. According to police statistics, an average of 30 firearm-related deaths occurred daily during the first three months of 2023.
The events on Tuesday followed a pattern seen in previous attacks, with multiple gunmen firing on people indiscriminately. Brig. Jay Naicker, the police spokesperson, confirmed that the assailants opened fire on a taxi minibus in the east coast town of Port Shepstone, resulting in the deaths of four passengers, while four others sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Last April, the nation witnessed a significant mass shooting when gunmen ambushed a home in the early hours, resulting in the deaths of ten family members, including seven females and a 13-year-old boy.
While many of these incidents involve illegal firearms, they underscore the broader issue of South Africa’s high crime rate, which extends beyond gun-related offenses.
