DURBAN - Eleven people have been killed and three others injured in a late-night mass shooting in Durban’s KwaMakhutha township.
A pregnant woman is among the dead. Ten people died at the scene, while another died on the way to hospital.
The victims were gathered at a home in the area when unknown gunmen stormed in and opened fire before 11pm on Tuesday. The attackers also set fire to a car belonging to one of the victims.
The motive for the shooting is not yet clear; police are still combing the scene.
A resident who spoke to eNCA said he knew the deceased and was shocked that they had been killed in this way.
“It’s shocking and sad. These are guys I grew up with. I can’t believe it. It’s like a movie,” the resident said.
He said the deceased were in their mid-30s.
“Their families are distraught, as you can see. I’ve been staying here all my life, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said, adding that the area had always been safe.
According to a statement by KZN police, preliminary investigations have revealed that some of the victims were on Crime Intelligence’s radar in connection with suspected illegal activities, details of which police said they could not disclose.
“Although the motive for the shooting has not yet been confirmed, a feud between rival groupings cannot be ruled out,” police said in the statement.