Eight people have been shot and killed in an attack by two people on a birthday party in South Africa.

Police said they were still trying to find the culprits, who targeted a house in the city of Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province.

Three people were also injured during the shootings, which happened between 5.15pm and 5.30pm on Sunday.

Police say no arrests have been made.

Details of the victims have not been released, although police said the owner of the house was among the dead.

“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 Eastern Cape police commissioner Nomthetheleli Lillian Mene.

The latest incident follows a spate of mass shootings last year across the nation.

In July, attackers shot 19 people dead in random shootings within hours of each other.

Read more on Sky News:
Death toll fears as suicide bomber targets Pakistan mosque
British children found in abandoned wine cellar

South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates, with around 20,000 people killed every year out of a population of 60 million.

According to campaign group Gun Free South Africa, there are about three million guns registered in the country. Many more weapons are said to be unregistered.

Police minister Bheki Cele and South Africa Police Service national commissioner Fannie Masemola are expected to visit the site of the latest incident on Monday.

Related posts:

Doctor who treated Kremlin critic Navalny after poisoning goes missing in Siberia Myanmar’s shadow government calls for nationwide revolt against military leaders Twenty million locked down in China amid fears Omicron could disrupt Olympics Indian actor apologises for ‘sexist’ and ‘misogynistic’ tweet to badminton star ‘They constantly follow and watch us’: Tensions high between Ukraine and Russia in flashpoint waters Women to officiate during men’s World Cup for first time ever Russian soldier asks for forgiveness as he faces widow of cyclist he shot dead Kyoto cherry blossom season altered by climate change and urban development Iran’s supreme leader says Mahsa Amini’s death ‘deeply broke my heart’ Ukraine makes gains in Kherson days after Russia announced annexation ‘I said no at least half a dozen times’: Trial begins over alleged rape in Australia’s parliament Police wrongly used tear gas at fatal Indonesian football match stampede, official says