At least 11 killed in mass shooting near South Africa’s Durban

At least 11 people have been killed in a mass shooting at a residential property in KwaMakhutha township near the South African city of Durban, police said.

Three gunmen stormed a house late on Tuesday, September 22, and opened fire on 14 people, killing 10 at the scene. Four others were taken to hospital, where one later died from their injuries, police said, as quoted by the BBC.

According to police, some of those targeted were under surveillance in connection with illegal activities. Authorities said they could not “divulge at the moment to protect investigations which have been launched”.

Police have not confirmed a motive for the attack but said they could not rule out a “feud between rival groupings”.

“Information available at this stage suggests that 13 men and one woman, who is believed to be pregnant, were reportedly having a party inside a house when three men arrived and opened fire on them,” police said in a statement. The woman was among those killed.

An eNCA television reporter at the scene said the attackers set fire to a vehicle belonging to one of the victims before fleeing. Footage from the scene showed the vehicle burned out.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with police statistics indicating an average of more than 60 murders a day.

The latest shooting comes amid heightened concern over violent crime in the country. In recent weeks, the discovery of at least nine murdered women, some of whose bodies were dumped by roadsides, has intensified fears over public safety.

Last year, nine people were killed in a mass shooting at a tavern in Johannesburg.

By Tamilla Hasanova