A party south of Durban ended in mass bloodshed on Tuesday night when three gunmen stormed a home and started shooting, killing 11 people, South African police say. Ten victims died at the scene in KwaMakhutha’s Ziko area, per CNN. An eleventh died at the hospital. Among the dead is a woman believed to have been pregnant. Three others were wounded. Police are also looking into a car that was set on fire near the home to see if that was related to the shooting, per the AP.
A manhunt is underway, with acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane saying investigators are pursuing a “promising lead,” per CNN. Authorities haven’t identified a motive but note some victims had previously drawn attention from the Crime Intelligence division for purported illegal activities. They also say a feud between rival groups is possible.
The attack adds to a string of mass shootings in recent years, and comes as South Africa wrestles with high murder rates and entrenched organized crime. Reuters notes that violent crime will be at top of voters’ minds as they head to the polls for municipal elections in November.