Eleven people, including a pregnant woman, were killed when armed attackers stormed a house in KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, late on Tuesday. Three others survived, while the motive remained unclear; police said they were pursuing a promising lead and had launched a 72-hour operation to find those responsible.

The victims were reportedly gathered at the property shortly before 11pm when the gunmen entered and opened fire. Local reports said the attackers forced people into one room and later set fire to a victim’s car. The killings have intensified concern about South Africa’s high levels of violent crime, with around 60 people murdered each day in a population of approximately 62 million.