South Africa Mass Shooting Leaves 11 Dead and Three Injured as Police Hunt Gunmen Behind KwaMakhutha Attack

Image Credit: REUTERS

At least 11 people have been killed and three others injured after three armed men opened fire at a house party in KwaMakhutha, south of Durban. Police have launched a manhunt for the attackers and are investigating whether the shooting may have been linked to a feud between rival groups.

The attack happened late Tuesday, September 22, in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha, a township around 30 kilometres south of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. According to the South African Police Service, 13 men and a woman believed to be pregnant were inside the house when the gunmen arrived and opened fire. Ten people died at the scene, while four were taken to hospital. One later died from their injuries.

The three survivors remain in hospital, while the attackers are still at large. Police have not announced any arrests as investigators continue searching for evidence and working to identify those responsible.

The motive remains unclear. Police said some of the victims were known to crime intelligence in connection with unspecified illegal activities, but did not provide further details. Authorities are also investigating the possibility of a dispute between rival groups, although no motive has been confirmed.

The shooting adds to a series of deadly attacks that have renewed concerns over gun violence in South Africa. In June, 12 people were killed and at least nine injured after gunmen opened fire at several locations in the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, east of Johannesburg. Police said more than 10 suspects were involved and that the motive remained under investigation.

South Africa continues to record thousands of murders each year despite recent declines in some crime categories. Government figures recorded 5,181 murders between January and March 2026, a 9.5% decrease from the same period the previous year. The figure still represented an average of roughly 58 murders each day.

Police and provincial authorities are now focused on finding the KwaMakhutha attackers and determining whether the victims were specifically targeted. The investigation remains ongoing, with no suspects publicly identified and no confirmed motive released.