Six people, believed to be community policing forum members, were killed and four injured in Godini village near Qumbu, Eastern Cape, on Sunday.
It is alleged that the deceased are members of the local Community Policing Forum (CPF).
Eastern Cape SAPS Provincial SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said six victims were fatally shot while four were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
“The incident occurred on Sunday night, where unknown suspects pounced and shot at the victims. The motive for the shooting is unclear at this stage,” said Nkohli.
The National Community Police Consultative Forum said it was deeply saddened and shocked by the heinous attack on six brave CPF patrollers who were shot by stock theft criminals during their duty.
“This senseless act of violence has left the entire community in mourning and highlights the dangerous challenges faced by those dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of their neighbourhoods.
“It is with profound sorrow that we send our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the two CPF patrollers who tragically lost their lives,” said National Community Police Board national spokesperson Siyanda Biyela.
He said their commitment to protecting their community will never be forgotten, and their sacrifice stood as a powerful reminder of the importance of unity in the fight against crime.
“We also extend our thoughts and prayers to the four patrollers who remain in hospital, bravely fighting for their lives. We wish them a full and speedy recovery and offer our support to their families during this extremely difficult time.
“The National Community Police Consultative Forum calls upon the community to stand together and assist law enforcement with any information that may lead to the swift arrest of the perpetrators. These criminals remain at large, and we urge anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward and report it to the nearest police station,” Biyela said.
Meanwhile, three people were expected to appear in the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with the Lusikisiki massacre.
On Sunday, during a memorial service to commemorate the lives of the 18 victims, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu announced that three people were arrested and police were in the process of searching for a fourth person whom he said was known to them.
Due to conflicting reports about the arrests, at this stage, it was still unclear if the three people were nabbed for other serious crimes that occurred in the region or were fingered in the mass murder.
According to crime statistics, 70 people are murdered in South Africa daily.
As of August this year, the Eastern Cape remained the worst region for murders in South Africa with a murder rate of 17.4 and 17.6 per 100 000 over the 2024 fourth quarter.
Releasing the quarterly crime stats in August, Mchunu said the most frequently used instruments in committing murders were firearms, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape.
“Firearms are then followed by knives and sharp objects. Knives were the preferred weapon of choice to commit murder in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape,” Mchunu said.