Stories
Gunman Kills Four People Following South Africa Memorial Service
- •A gunman opened fire on mourners leaving a memorial service in Katlehong township, killing at least four people and injuring three others.
- •A child was among the three wounded victims from the late Tuesday shooting.
- •The suspect turned himself in to authorities and is currently in custody.
- •The South African Police Service assigned a political killings task team to investigate the incident.
- •Reports indicate some victims were members of the African National Congress youth league, attending a service for a local leader who also died in a suspected political shooting.
Key Questions Answered
A gunman opened fire on mourners leaving a memorial service for a local politician in Katlehong township, killing at least four people and injuring three others. The suspect was taken into custody after turning himself in to the police.
Local media reported that some of the victims were members of the youth league of the African National Congress (ANC) party. The memorial service was held for a female local ANC leader who had died earlier that month in a suspected politically motivated shooting.
Yes, South Africa experiences high rates of gun crime and incidents linked to local political rivalries. A report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime noted 43 suspected politically motivated killings in the country that year.
