South Africa Shooting: 11 Killed After Three Gunmen Attack Durban Township Home
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Three Gunmen stormed a homestead in KwaMakhutha township near South Africa’s Durban, killing 11 people, including a pregnant woman, police said on Wednesday.
The victims were gathered inside a house shortly before 11 pm on Tuesday when armed attackers entered the premises and opened fire, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said.
Three other people survived the attack, according to police.
Police Launch Manhunt After KwaMakhutha Shooting
The South African Police Service (SAPS) said it had launched a manhunt for suspects allegedly involved in the shooting in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha, KwaZulu-Natal, on Tuesday night, September 22.
According to police, 13 men and a woman, who was believed to be pregnant, were reportedly attending a party inside the house when three armed men arrived and opened fire.
Ten victims, including the woman, died at the scene, while four injured people were taken to hospital. One of the injured later succumbed to gunshot injuries, taking the death toll to 11.
Some Victims On Crime Intelligence Radar
Preliminary investigations indicated that some of the victims were on the radar of Crime Intelligence in connection with alleged illegal activities.
Police said they could not disclose further details at this stage as doing so could affect the investigations.
The motive for the shooting has not yet been established. However, police said a feud between rival groups could not be ruled out.
Attack Leaves Community In Shock
Local broadcaster eNCA reported that the attackers forced those inside into a room before opening fire. A car belonging to one of the victims was also allegedly set on fire.
Residents expressed shock over the violence in the township south of Durban.
One local resident told eNCA that several of the victims were people he had grown up with, describing the incident as something that felt unreal. Another resident said he had lived in the area all his life and had never witnessed an attack of this scale.
South Africa Grapples With Gun Violence
South Africa has one of the world's highest murder rates, with around 60 people killed every day in a country of roughly 62 million people.
Shootings are frequent, with police and authorities often linking gun violence to gang rivalry and competition between informal businesses. The country also has widespread access to both legal and illegal firearms.
In March, soldiers were deployed to violence hotspots across South Africa to support police operations against crime.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described rampant crime as one of the country's biggest threats.
