11 Killed, Including Pregnant Woman, in Deadly South Africa Township Shooting

At least 11 people, including a pregnant woman, have been killed after armed men opened fire on a group of people attending a house party in KwaMakhutha township near Durban, South Africa.

The attack occurred late Tuesday night, with the gunmen reportedly storming the house shortly before 11pm local time while the victims were gathered inside.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli confirmed the incident, saying two people survived the attack. He added that authorities had yet to establish the motive for the shooting.

“The incident has left the community in profound shock and grief,” Ntuli said.

Local broadcaster eNCA reported that the attackers allegedly forced the people inside the house into one room before opening fire. A vehicle belonging to one of the victims was also reportedly set ablaze during the attack.

A resident who spoke to the broadcaster described the incident as shocking, saying some of the victims were people he had known while growing up.

“It’s shocking and sad. These are guys I grew up with. I can’t believe it. It’s like a movie,” the resident said.

Another resident said he had lived in the area all his life but had never witnessed anything similar.

According to a police statement cited by eNCA, preliminary investigations indicated that some of the victims were reportedly known to South Africa’s Crime Intelligence unit in connection with suspected illegal activities. Police, however, did not provide further details.

Authorities said the motive for the attack had not been established, but noted that a possible conflict between rival groups could not be ruled out.

South Africa continues to face a high level of violent crime, with official figures indicating that dozens of people are killed across the country every day.

In March, soldiers were deployed alongside police in several crime hotspots as part of efforts to combat violent crime.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has previously described the country’s high crime rate as one of its major threats.

Investigations into the KwaMakhutha shooting are ongoing as police work to identify those responsible and establish the circumstances surrounding the killings.

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