A late-night house party in South Africa turned into a bloodbath after three gunmen stormed the home and opened fire, killing 11 people and wounding three others.
The horrific shooting happened Tuesday night, Sept. 22, in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha, a township south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal province.
According to the South African Police Service, 13 men and one woman were gathered inside the house when three men arrived and suddenly began shooting.
Ten people died at the scene, including the woman, who police said was believed to be pregnant.
Four other victims were rushed to the hospital, but one died from gunshot wounds on the way. Three others survived and were being treated for their injuries.
Local news outlet eNCA reported that the attackers also set fire to a vehicle belonging to one of the victims before fleeing the area. The shooting reportedly happened shortly before 11 p.m.
A resident who knew several of the victims described the scene as almost impossible to comprehend.
“It’s shocking and sad. These are guys I grew up with. I can’t believe it. It’s like a movie,” he told eNCA.
The resident said the victims were believed to be in their mid-30s and that families gathered at the scene were devastated.
“I’ve been staying here all my life, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.
Police have not yet announced a confirmed motive for the massacre.
However, investigators revealed that some of the victims had previously come to the attention of the police Crime Intelligence division in connection with alleged illegal activity.
Authorities said they are not releasing further details about those alleged activities because they could compromise the investigation.
Police also said a feud between rival groups “cannot be ruled out,” although investigators have not confirmed that the shooting was gang-related.
The scale of the attack has triggered a major police response.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane ordered KwaZulu-Natal police to activate a 72-hour tracking operation aimed at finding and arresting the gunmen responsible.
“There is no place in our communities for the senseless taking of human lives,” Dimpane said.
She ordered police to mobilize all available resources and said investigators were already following what authorities described as a “promising lead” that could help produce a breakthrough in the case.
Police are now appealing to anyone with information about the gunmen to come forward, either directly to investigators or anonymously through South Africa’s Crime Stop system.
As of Wednesday, no arrests had been announced.
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