South African house party shooting kills 11, could be gang violence

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 23 — Three armed men opened fire on ​guests at a house party in a township south of the South African city ‌of Durban on Tuesday night, killing at least 11 and ⁠injuring three, in what ​police said could ⁠be a gang-related incident.

A woman believed to ‌be pregnant and ‌13 men were among those attending the ⁠party in the township ⁠of KwaMakhutha in KwaZulu-Natal province, police said on Wednesday in a statement on X.

"Ten victims, including the woman, died at the scene and four were taken to hospital, where ‌one of them succumbed ​to gunshot injuries," they added in a statement.

The motive for the attack is not known, but police said "a feud between rival groupings cannot be ruled out". Police have launched a manhunt for the three suspects.

Some of the ​victims were on the radar of crime ‌intelligence in connection ‌with ⁠illegal activities, police said, without giving more details.

South Africa has one of the world's highest murder rates, averaging about 60 a day.

Violent crime ‌remains a key ​concern for voters ahead ‌of municipal elections ⁠in November.

(Reporting ​by Nilutpal Timsina; Editing by Alexander Winning and Xevi ​Fontdegloria)

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