Seventeen people have been killed in a mass shooting in a remote South African town. A manhunt is underway to find the perpetrators, police say.
Two farms in the Eastern Cape town of Lusikisiki were targeted, police said, with 12 women and one man killed at one location and three women and one man killed at a second location.
An 18th victim is in critical condition in hospital, South Africa police said.
Police ministers and the commissioner will give a national briefing at 1pm local time (12pm BST) on Saturday.
South African media reports that the victims were relatives and neighbors in Nyathi village, Ngobozana in Lusikisiki.
They said the group had gathered at homes to prepare to attend a traditional mourning ceremony when they were attacked on Friday evening.
News broadcast Dispatch Live quoted local mayor of Ingquza Hil, Nonkosi Pepping, as saying: “The gunmen came and randomly shot everyone. Women and children were also killed in the bloody shooting.
“This has terrified the community.”
