An investigation has been launched into an attack that claimed eight lives and left three others injured in Kwazakele, Gqeberha town in South Africa.
According to reports, two gunmen opened fire on a group of people celebrating a birthday at the weekend in a township in South Africa, killing eight and wounding three others.
The mass shooting occurred between 5:15 and 5:30 p.m. (1515 and 1530 GMT) on Sunday at a house in Kwazakele, Gqeberha, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement.
The birthday celebrant was among those gunned down in the mass shooting.
The gunmen fled after the attack, and no arrests have been made, the Police said.
Police have not named the victims, but confirmed that the owner of the house was among them.
The gunmen ‘randomly shot at guests,’ police said, adding ‘eight people died while three others are still fighting for their lives in hospital. The home owner is among the deceased’.
Nomthetheleli Mene, the provincial Police chief for the Eastern Cape province, condemned the killings as ‘a blatant disregard for human life’.
“These victims were killed by criminals, and we will not rest until we find out what happened and who was responsible for (this) callous and cold-blooded attack on these unsuspecting victims,” said Mene.
The latest incident follows a spate of mass shootings last year that shocked the nation.
In July, gunmen killed 19 people in random shootings within hours of each other.