At least 11 people, including a woman believed to be pregnant, have been killed after three gunmen opened fire at a house party in KwaMakhutha township, South Africa.
The attack happened late Tuesday night in the community, about 30 kilometres south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal province. Three other people were wounded and taken for medical treatment, although police had not provided details on their conditions.
The Brandspur News reports that police said the victims had gathered at the house for a party when the attackers entered and began shooting. Ten people died at the scene, while an 11th victim was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Police said they were searching for three male suspects and had not made any arrests as of Wednesday. The motive remained unclear, although authorities said a dispute between rival groups could not be ruled out.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli described the incident as deeply disturbing and pointed to longstanding problems involving drug dealing and illegal firearms in the impoverished community.
Police also said some of the people at the gathering were known to authorities in connection with separate investigations into criminal activity, but did not provide further details.
The shooting is the latest in a series of mass killings involving firearms in South Africa. In June, multiple gunmen killed 12 people in a Johannesburg neighbourhood in an attack police linked to criminal gangs. Two separate mass shootings in December also left 21 people dead.
Official police figures recorded 5,427 homicides across South Africa between April and June, an average of almost 60 killings each day. Shootings remain the most common method of homicide, with police and crime experts identifying the widespread circulation of illegal firearms as a major concern.
South African authorities have also deployed soldiers in parts of the country to support efforts against violent crime. The deployments cover areas around Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as parts of Eastern Cape, but KwaZulu-Natal was not included in the operation.
Investigators have cordoned off the KwaMakhutha scene as forensic teams examine the circumstances surrounding the attack. Police are also investigating whether a vehicle that was set alight near the house was connected to the shooting.
