At least 11 people have been killed after gunmen stormed a house in KwaMakhutha township near Durban, South Africa, opening fire on a group of people who were reportedly gathered for a party.
Highlights
- At least 11 people died in the shooting.
- Three gunmen reportedly attacked 14 people inside a house.
- A woman believed to be pregnant was among those killed.
- Police are investigating a possible dispute between rival groups.
- A vehicle belonging to one of the victims was reportedly set on fire.
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Gunmen Attack House Near Durban
South African police are investigating a deadly shooting that left at least 11 people dead in KwaMakhutha township, near Durban.
The attack happened late Tuesday when three armed men reportedly entered a residential property where 14 people were gathered.
Police said 10 victims died at the scene, while four others were taken to hospital for treatment. One of those injured later succumbed to their wounds, bringing the death toll to 11.
Pregnant Woman Among Victims
According to police, the group comprised 13 men and one woman.
The woman, who is believed to have been pregnant, was among those killed during the attack.
Investigators have yet to establish exactly why the group was targeted.
Police said some of the victims were known to authorities in connection with alleged illegal activities, but declined to provide further details, saying releasing such information could interfere with the ongoing investigation.
Possible Rival Group Feud
Authorities have not confirmed a motive for the attack.
However, police said they were investigating the possibility that the shooting could have been linked to a conflict between rival groups.
The three suspects reportedly fled the scene after the attack.
A vehicle belonging to one of the victims was also allegedly set on fire before the attackers escaped, according to an eNCA reporter who was at the scene.
Images from the area showed the vehicle badly damaged by the flames.
South Africa Battles High Murder Rate
The latest shooting comes as South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of violent crime.
Official police statistics have consistently placed the country among those with some of the highest murder rates globally, with the number of killings averaging more than 60 people a day.
The latest incident adds to growing concern over violent attacks across the country.
In recent weeks, the discovery of the bodies of at least nine murdered women, some reportedly abandoned along roadsides, has further intensified public concern over safety.
Investigators are now working to establish who carried out the KwaMakhutha attack, why the group was targeted and whether the suspected feud played a role in the killings.
As investigators search for the motive behind the KwaMakhutha massacre, another community is left confronting the devastating cost of gun violence.
