At least 11 people have been killed and three others wounded after three armed men opened fire at a house party in KwaMakhutha township, south of Durban, South Africa, police said.
The attack happened late Tuesday night, September 22, when a group of people gathered at a house in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha, in KwaZulu-Natal province. According to the South African Police Service, the attackers arrived at the property and opened fire on people inside.
Police said 10 victims, including a woman believed to be pregnant, died at the scene. Four others were taken to hospital, where one later died from gunshot injuries. Three survivors were wounded and remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have launched a manhunt for the three suspected attackers, and no arrests had been announced at the time of the latest police update.
The motive for the shooting remains unclear. Police said some of the victims were known to law enforcement in connection with investigations into alleged criminal activities, but officials have not released further details because doing so could compromise those investigations.
Investigators have also not ruled out the possibility of a feud between rival groups as a motive. Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the attack and whether the burning of a vehicle near the property is connected to the shooting.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli visited the area and described the killings as deeply disturbing, while appealing to residents to provide information that could help investigators identify and apprehend the suspects.
The latest shooting adds to a series of deadly mass shootings in South Africa, where authorities continue to face challenges linked to violent crime and the circulation of illegal firearms. Police statistics cited in reports show that thousands of homicides occur in the country every year.
The KwaMakhutha community has been left grieving as forensic investigators process the scene and police continue their search for those responsible.
The incident has renewed concerns about public safety in South Africa and the need for stronger efforts to tackle violent crime, illegal firearms and organized criminal activity.
Swifteradio.com
