Subscribe: Gist E-Paper
At least 11 people have been killed and three others wounded after gunmen opened fire at a house party in KwaMakhutha township, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The attack occurred late Tuesday in the township, about 30 kilometres south of Durban, when three armed men reportedly entered a house where people had gathered for a party and opened fire.
Police said 10 people, including a woman believed to have been pregnant, died at the scene, while an 11th victim later died in hospital.
The condition of the three injured victims was not immediately known.
The attackers fled the scene and police said no arrests had been made as investigations continued.
The motive for the shooting remained unclear. Police, however, said some of those present at the gathering were known to authorities in connection with criminal investigations.
“Although the motive of the shooting cannot be confirmed yet, a feud between rival groupings cannot be ruled out,” police said.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thami Ntuli, described the killings as disturbing, noting that the community had experienced problems linked to drug dealing and illegal firearms.
The incident is the latest in a series of mass shootings in South Africa, where gun violence remains a major security concern.
Police statistics recorded 5,427 homicides between April and June, an average of nearly 60 killings daily. Shootings are reported to be the most common form of homicide in the country.
Police and crime experts have identified the widespread circulation of illegal firearms as a major factor contributing to violent crime.
At the scene in KwaMakhutha, some of the victims' bodies were placed outside the house and covered with white sheets as forensic investigators examined the area.
Police cordoned off the neighbourhood while investigators worked at the scene.
Authorities were also investigating whether a vehicle set ablaze near the house was connected to the shooting.
