At least 11 people killed in shooting at house party in Durban, South Africa

At least 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were killed when armed men opened fire at a house party in a township in Durban, South Africa. The attack occurred late on Tuesday, according to Thamsanqa Ntuli, the premier of KwaZulu-Natal province, which includes Durban. The assailants entered the home shortly before 11 PM local time while the victims were gathered for the event. Two individuals survived the attack, but the motive behind the shootings remains unclear. Ntuli stated, "The incident has left the community in profound shock and grief." Local broadcaster eNCA reported that the attackers forced everyone into a single room before opening fire and also set fire to a vehicle belonging to one of the victims. A resident expressed disbelief, saying, "It’s shocking and sad. These are guys I grew up with. I can’t believe it. It’s like a movie." Another resident noted, "I’ve been staying here all my life, and I’ve never seen anything like this." According to a police statement cited by eNCA, preliminary investigations suggested that some of the deceased were on South Africa’s Crime Intelligence radar for suspected illegal activities, although further details were not provided. The police indicated that while the motive for the shooting has not been confirmed, a feud between rival groups could be a possibility. South Africa has one of the highest murder rates globally, averaging about 60 killings per day in a population of approximately 62 million. In March, soldiers were deployed alongside national police to address violent hotspots, a situation President Cyril Ramaphosa has identified as one of the country's major threats.