The South African
Police Service (SAPS) management in the Eastern Cape has expressed shock at yet
another violent incident which erupted yesterday, September 19, in Majola
Administrative Area in Port St Johns.
Police have
confirmed a shooting incident was reported to have taken place in the area
while four homesteads were also torched in the latest eruption of violence.
“During the
shooting, it is alleged that a 22-year-old man sustained bullet wounds on the
upper body and was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. A case of
attempted murder and arson were opened for further investigation,” said
provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana.
Kinana added that
the circumstances surrounding the incidents are currently under investigations
which are ongoing, and no arrests had been made.
The latest
eruption of violence in the area comes less than a month after government and
police held a community engagement to calm tensions in the area on August 23.
The community
engagement came after two elderly men were shot dead while 18 homesteads were
torched in the same area last month.
“We wanted to
assure affected communities that police management will soon operationalize
their plan to address these sporadic incidents. We also urge communities to
work with the police, especially when it comes to reporting of criminal
activities,” Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli
Mene was quoted as saying at the time.
The cause of the
sporadic acts of violence remains unclear.
