At least 11 people have been killed in a mass shooting in a residential building near Durban.

Gunmen stormed a house in KwaMakhutha township late on Tuesday and opened fire on 14 people. Ten were killed at the scene and four were taken to hospital, where one later died from injuries, police said.

Police said some victims were on their watch in connection with illegal activities, details of which are still under investigation to protect the inquiry.

The motive remains unclear, but officials cited a possible feud between rival groups. A statement said the shooting occurred during a party with 13 men and one pregnant woman inside the house, all of whom were among the casualties.

A local TV reporter noted that the gunmen set fire to a vehicle belonging to one of the victims before fleeing, footage showing the burnt‑out car was released to the public. The police are conducting a manhunt for the suspects, who allegedly carried pistols and rifles.

South Africa’s murder rate is among the highest worldwide, with police data showing over 60 deaths a day. Recent weeks have seen the discovery of at least nine murdered women, stoking fears across the nation. Last year another mass shooting at a Johannesburg tavern claimed nine lives.

Criminal gangs involved in turf wars, drug trafficking, and illegal mining are common in the country, often driving community violence. President Cyril Ramaphosa has called organized crime the most immediate threat to democracy, announcing the deployment of the army to assist police.

Mass shootings are a relatively new phenomenon in South Africa, provoking heightened feelings of unsafety and shock. Experts call for dismantling organized crime networks and addressing economic conditions that push people into crime. The proliferation of illegal guns, lack of visible policing in high‑crime areas, slow judicial processes, and alleged links between senior officials and gangs compound the crisis.