Eight people were killed and three others were injured when armed men opened fire on a group of people in a South African township who were celebrating a birthday.
On Sunday night in the southern port city of Gqeberha, previously Port Elizabeth, “the owner of the property was celebrating his birthday when two unknown gunmen entered the yard” and “started firing at the visitors,” police said in a statement.
According to authorities, the incident happened at a home in Kwazakele between 5:15 and 5:30 pm local time (15:15 and 15:30 GMT). The shooting was carried out by two attackers, according to the authorities.
According to the authorities, the unidentified assailants “randomly fired at visitors,” and “eight individuals perished while three others are still battling for their lives in the hospital.” One of those killed is the homeowner.
The attack is the subject of an investigation, and police say they are looking for the attackers.
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, and gang violence and alcohol are major contributors to the country’s high rate of shootings.
Last year, there were several shootings in South Africa that left close to two dozen people dead in various bars in working-class neighborhoods of Johannesburg and the eastern city of Pietermaritzburg.
