In a country still grappling with violent crime and gender-based violence, two separate but equally heartbreaking tragedies have rocked the Eastern Cape and Gqeberha—leaving behind grieving families, unanswered questions, and communities in mourning.

Sisters Gunned Down in Their Sleep in Upper Ncerha

Imagine waking up in a quiet rural village only to find out your elderly neighbors—sisters aged 75 and 85—were murdered in cold blood.

That’s exactly what happened in Upper Ncerha, just outside Alice in the Eastern Cape.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, May 13th, unknown attackers stormed into the sisters’ modest four-room home and opened fire while they slept.

The attack was brutal and targeted—execution-style, according to police.

Both women were shot in their upper bodies and died on the spot.

No one has been arrested yet, and the motive remains unclear.

SAPS Condemns the Violence and Calls for Justice

The South African Police Service (SAPS) released a statement confirming that the suspects remain at large.

Officers arrived at the scene shortly after the incident was reported but were too late to save the victims.

Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Thandiswa Kupiso strongly condemned the attack, stressing that crimes against the elderly, women, and children cannot be tolerated.

“SAPS is committed to protecting the vulnerable in society against the increase of gender-based violence,” she said.

Mother and Daughter Killed in Gqeberha Shooting

Just hours later and roughly 300 kilometers away, police were responding to another gruesome scene—this time in Sakhasonke Village, Walmer, in Gqeberha.

After reports of gunfire, SAPS officers discovered the bodies of 19-year-old Hailie-Jade Coboza and her mother, 40-year-old Lusanda, inside their home.

The scene was grim, and investigators moved quickly.

Breakthrough in the Gqeberha Case Leads to Multiple Arrests

Unlike the Upper Ncerha case, Gqeberha detectives made rapid progress.

Their leads took them to Dora Nginza Hospital, where they found a wounded man being treated for a leg injury.

He turned out to be connected to the shooting.

That arrest helped unravel more of the mystery.

The investigation then led them to a home in Greenshields Park, where police arrested three additional suspects.

The quick work by detectives brought some hope of justice for the grieving family.

What Could Be Behind These Killings?

Two tragedies.

Four lives lost. And still, so many questions.

What led to such heartless violence against elderly women in Upper Ncerha? Was it personal, or just random cruelty? And in Gqeberha, what triggered the murder of a mother and daughter in their own home?

What’s Next?

Police continue to investigate both cases, but for the families and communities left behind, the pain is raw and real.

These attacks aren’t just isolated incidents—they’re part of a broader conversation about safety, justice, and the alarming frequency of violence in South Africa.

Now, the pressure is on SAPS to deliver answers—and arrests.