Three gunmen kill 11 at Durban area house party including a pregnant woman

The night would stay heavy in KwaMakhutha when gunfire tore through a house party, leaving 11 dead and three wounded^39,41. Ten people died on the spot, with one more dying later in hospital, as three armed men stormed the gathering near Durban and opened fire before 11 pm local time, then fled^41,39.

A homeowner’s car was torched in the wake of the attack, and investigators launched a major manhunt for the suspects while probing possible links to local crime networks and rival groups^2,41. Local officials described the scene as shocking and deeply painful for families and the wider KwaZulu-Natal community, noting that some victims were already known to crime intelligence units ahead of this incident^31,38.

The motive remains unclear, though authorities say a feud between rival groupings cannot be ruled out, and questions linger about whether gang feuds or illegal activity tied people to the home party^39,1.

In the hours that followed, police pressed residents for tips and prepared to map the exact sequence of events, as the province faced renewed concern about firearm violence and public safety in Durban’s outskirts^40,37.