President Cyril Ramaphosa said he is outraged by the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 18 family members from Ngobozana Village, Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape during the early hours of Saturday. He emphasised that while the nation should come together in grief with the affected families, it is equally important to condemn the killings, which he assured would not go unpunished.

EXPERTS AND SPECIALIST DETECTIVES DEPLOYED TO HELP WITH INVESTIGATIONS

Ramaphosa has extended his condolences to the families of victims. In a statement, the president said his thoughts are also with the five survivors, including a two-month-old baby whose mother was also shot dead. "I feel deeply for all the families and members of the broader community affected by this attack and on behalf of all of us as South Africans, I offer you our deepest sympathies." Ramaphosa assured the families of the deceased that the South African Police Service has mobilised maximum resources to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book. "A team of specialist detectives and forensic science experts has been deployed to the crime scene to assist with the investigation. In addition, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and the national leadership of the South African Police Service are due to visit families and engage with residents on this tragedy," the President said in a statement.

CRIMINALS WON'T PREVAIL 

The president also said that he is confident that the police will bring those responsible for the mass shooting to book. "Community members should therefore feel free to provide investigators with information that can help police apprehend the attackers and prepare a watertight case for our courts to process. We will not allow criminals to prevail," he added. According to the presidency, aside from the current incident, 38 people have been killed under similar circumstances in the last two years, while 25 suspects were arrested and remain in custody. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that no arrests have been made in the killings and that a manhunt has been launched for the killers.