JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- Eight people were shot dead by two revellers refused entry to a Christmas Eve party in South Africa's strife-torn KwaZulu-Natal province.

Police spokesman Bala Naidoo told Kaya FM radio that two men unknown to the hosts demanded to gatecrash the party at a family home in the Indian Ocean coastal town of Margate.

"Subsequently the suspects opened fire when they were refused entry," Naidoo said.

Fort Shepstone police said the seven men and one women killed were between 18 and 43 years old. Two party-goers were wounded and seven escaped unhurt.

Police were searching for the suspects. They said it was unclear if the attack was politically linked.

KwaZulu-Natal has been the explosive center of violence between South Africa's ruling African National Congress and the predominately Zulu-based Inkatha Freedom Party in which have thousands died since the mid-1980s.

Six men were shot and hacked to death by a gang of men armed with AK-47 assault rifles and machetes on Wednesday in the town of Harding, 70 km (40 miles) northwest of Margate. Police said on Thursday reinforcements were on their way to Harding as wary residents fled the volatile region.

Reuters contributed to this report.