Gunmen fatally shoot 8 people at birthday party in South Africa

Authorities in South Africa said gunmen fatally shot eight people who had gathered for a birthday party on Sunday evening. According to BBC, the fatal incident occurred at a home in Gqeberha, the city formerly known as Port Elizabeth.

Police said the two gunmen who entered the premises randomly fired at the attendees. The house owner was among the victims fatally shot. Three other people also sustained injuries. The country’s minister of police as well as the head of police are expected to visit the crime scene with a delegation on Monday.

Local news outlets reported that authorities have since launched an investigation into the fatal incident. Arrests are, however, yet to be made.

Gun violence in South Africa has been on the rise in recent years. A November 2022 report by the non-government organization Gun Free South Africa indicates that South Africa’s gun violence epidemic kills 30 people a day, injures 180, and causes the country to lose billions in direct and indirect costs.

Last year, about 15 people were killed when armed men opened fire at a bar in Soweto.