South Africa Shooting: 11 Killed at House Party
The motive for the mass shooting in the town of KwaMakhutha near Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa was not immediately clear.
Eleven individuals were killed in a shooting at a home in KwaMakhutha, a township located 30 kilometers south of Durban, the largest city in South Africa's KwaZulu Natal province. Three people were injured in the attack, according to Kwa-Zulu Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli. The victims, which included a pregnant woman, were found gathered at the house shortly before 11:00 p.m. when gunmen reportedly entered the premises and began firing.
Kwa-Zulu Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said the incident has left the community in deep shock and grief. Police reported that one victim died after being taken to the hospital, while the remaining ten victims, including the pregnant woman, died at the scene. Four of those individuals were taken to the hospital but succumbed to their gunshot injuries.
Some of the victims were known to the police. As of now, no arrests have been made. Acting police chief Puleng Dimpane has launched a 72-hour tracking operation to apprehend the perpetrators. Shootings in South Africa are common due to the prevalence of legal and illegal firearms, and are often fueled by rivalry between criminal gangs or between informal businesses.
The country has one of the world's highest murder rates, with approximately 60 people killed each day in the country of around 62 million inhabitants. This incident occurred as South Africa continues to grapple with a series of femicides near Johannesburg.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
