Eleven killed in mass shooting at house in South Africa

At least 11 individuals lost their lives in a mass shooting at a residential building near Durban, South Africa. Gunmen attacked a house in the KwaMakhutha township on Tuesday evening, firing upon 14 individuals. Ten victims succumbed to their injuries on the scene, while four were taken to a hospital, where one later died from their wounds.

Police stated that some victims were engaged in activities connected to illegal activities, details of which they could not disclose to protect ongoing investigations. While the motive remains unclear, police could not rule out the possibility of a feud between rival groups. According to police, 13 men and one pregnant woman were reportedly at a party in the house when three assailants arrived and opened fire.

The pregnant woman is among those who perished. Footage from the scene showed the gunman setting fire to a victim's vehicle before fleeing the scene. Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects. South Africa, which boasts one of the highest murder rates globally, with police data indicating over 60 deaths per day, has recently witnessed at least nine women murdered, with some bodies found abandoned by the roadside.

Last year, a mass shooting at a tavern in Johannesburg left nine people dead. Rivalry among criminal gangs, driven by turf wars, drug trafficking, and illegal mining, is common in the country, often intensifying violence within communities. In February, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized that organized crime posed the most immediate threat to democracy, society, and economic development, announcing the deployment of the army to support law enforcement efforts.