In a tragic and brutal incident, seven members of a family, including three children, were shot dead in their home in rural South Africa. The attack occurred late Wednesday night at a homestead in the Highflats area of KwaZulu-Natal province, located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Durban.
The victims ranged in age from a five-year-old boy to a 55-year-old woman. Police believe the attack was premeditated, describing it as an execution-style killing. According to provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the perpetrators fired around 25 bullets, targeting some victims in the head while they were on the floor.
The gunmen reportedly entered the house while the family was watching television. They forced a family member, who was outside, to knock on the door before launching the attack once the door was opened.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear. South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of violent crime, and the country has one of the highest peacetime homicide rates globally. Police reported nearly 6,200 murders between April and June this year alone.
Authorities are investigating the case, seeking to determine the reasons behind this horrifying crime and to identify those responsible.