Ten people dead as gunmen ambush family in South Africa

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with about 20,000 recorded murders per year out of a population of 60 million.

Unknown gunmen stormed a home in the South African town of Pietermaritzburg and ambushed a family, leaving 10 people dead, police said.

Police gave no motive for the shooting. The dead included seven women and three men, the police ministry said in a statement.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with about 20,000 recorded murders per year out of a population of 60 million.

From July 1 to September 30, 2022, more than 7,000 people were killed in crimes reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

By 2022, nearly 1,000 women had been murdered. More than 13,000 women were also victims of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and 1,277 women were victims of attempted murder.

Gunmen killed eight people and wounded three others at a birthday party in the Eastern Cape town of Gqeberha in January following a spate of mass gun attacks last year.

Police Minister Bheki Cele and top management of the South African Police will visit the crime scene of the latest shooting later on Friday.