At least 11 people have died after armed attackers opened fire on a group inside a home in KwaMakhutha township, near Durban, South Africa.
Police said three assailants entered the residence late Tuesday and fired at 14 people who were reportedly attending a gathering.
Ten victims died at the scene, while four others were rushed to a medical facility. One of the injured later succumbed to their wounds.
The deceased included a woman believed to have been pregnant.
Authorities said 13 men and the woman were inside the property when the shooting occurred.
Investigators indicated that some of those targeted were being monitored over suspected involvement in unlawful activities.
However, officials declined to provide further details, saying this could interfere with the ongoing inquiry.
Police have not established a definite motive but said a dispute involving rival groups could be among the possible explanations.
An eNCA journalist at the location reported that the attackers also torched a vehicle belonging to one of the victims before escaping. Images from the scene showed the car badly damaged by fire.
Authorities have launched a search for the suspects, who were reportedly armed with both handguns and rifles.
South Africa continues to record high levels of violent crime, with official figures indicating an average of more than 60 killings each day.
The latest incident comes amid concern over a series of killings involving women in the country.
At least nine women have recently been found dead, with some bodies reportedly abandoned along roadsides.
In another mass shooting last year, nine people lost their lives at a tavern in Johannesburg.
Criminal disputes involving gangs, competition over territory, narcotics and illegal mining have frequently contributed to violent incidents in South African communities.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in February that organised crime posed an immediate danger to the country’s democracy, social stability and economic progress.
He subsequently announced plans for military personnel to assist police operations against criminal networks.
By:Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong