Mass shooting at house party in South Africa leaves 11 dead, 3 wounded: police

A pregnant woman was among 11 people killed in a mass shooting at a house party in South Africa, according to police. The attack occurred in the KwaMakhutha township, approximately 30 kilometers south of Durban. Around 30 individuals were present at the party when three gunmen entered the residence and opened fire. Ten individuals died at the scene, while an 11th person succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.

The identities and conditions of the three people who were wounded have not been disclosed yet. Police are actively searching for the three suspects and have not made any arrests thus far. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, though some partygoers were known to authorities due to ongoing investigations related to criminal activities.

KwaZulu-Natal's Premier, Thami Ntuli, expressed shock at the killings, noting that drug dealing and illegal firearms are prevalent issues in the impoverished community. This incident is among a series of mass shootings in South Africa, including one in June that claimed 12 lives in Johannesburg, which police linked to criminal gangs.

Two mass shootings in December resulted in 21 deaths, also carried out by multiple gunmen. South Africa grapples with exceptionally high rates of violent crime, with official statistics recording 5,427 homicides between April and June, averaging nearly 60 homicides daily. Shootings are the most common form of homicide, and the presence of illegal firearms exacerbates the problem.

President Cyril Ramaphosa authorized the deployment of soldiers in certain areas to combat violent crime, but they were not deployed in KwaZulu-Natal where the recent shooting occurred. The victims' bodies were laid out outside the house, covered with white sheets, before being transported to pathology vans. Forensic investigators are examining the scene, and police are investigating whether a car that was set on fire near the location is connected to the shooting.