Mirian Gom 
DURBAN, South Africa – Gunmen have killed 11 people, including a pregnant woman, after storming a house in KwaMakhutha township south of Durban, South Africa.
Three other people were injured in the late-night attack, which happened shortly before 11pm on Tuesday, according to South African authorities and local reports on Wednesday.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said the victims were gathered at a homestead when armed attackers entered the premises and opened fire.
Ten people died at the scene, while another died while being taken to hospital, according to eNCA.
Police are investigating the attack and searching for those responsible. Acting national police commissioner Puleng Dimpane has activated a 72-hour tracking operation to locate and arrest the suspects. “There is no place in our communities for the senseless taking of human lives.”
Dimpane directed police to mobilise available resources and pursue those responsible for the killings.
Local broadcaster eNCA reported that the attackers forced people into a room before opening fire and later set fire to a vehicle belonging to one of the victims. Those details were not immediately independently confirmed by police.
A resident who spoke to the broadcaster described the victims as 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.”
Another resident said he had lived in the area all his life and had never witnessed an attack of such magnitude.
Police have not publicly established a motive, although authorities are pursuing leads in the investigation.
The shooting has renewed concerns over gun violence in South Africa, where firearms are frequently involved in violent crime.
The country has one of the highest murder rates globally, with about 60 people killed each day, according to figures cited in reports on the attack.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah