Eleven people, including a woman believed to be pregnant, have been killed after gunmen opened fire during a house party in KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, South Africa.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night in the Ziko area, where three armed men reportedly entered the house and opened fire on people attending the gathering, according to the police.
Ten victims died at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries after being taken to hospital.
Three other people sustained injuries and were receiving medical attention.
Police have launched a manhunt for the attackers, with Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane saying investigators were following a “promising lead.”
The motive for the attack remains unknown. However, police said some of the victims had previously come to the attention of Crime Intelligence over alleged illegal activities.
Authorities also said they could not rule out the possibility that the shooting was linked to a feud between rival groups.
The latest incident adds to a series of deadly mass shootings recorded in South Africa in recent years.
In June, 12 people were killed in a shooting at an informal settlement in Johannesburg, while nine others died in a separate attack at a tavern outside the city in December 2025.
South African police statistics also indicate the scale of the country’s violent crime problem, with an average of 58 people reportedly murdered each day between January and March 2026.
The country has also been grappling with criminal networks involved in activities including drug trafficking, extortion, illegal mining and gang violence.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said in February that organised crime was “the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development.”
He subsequently announced the deployment of soldiers to support the police in efforts to tackle gang violence and criminal syndicates.
