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# Eleven Killed in Mass Shooting Near Durban
- URL: https://www.theglobalvoice.com/eleven-killed-in-mass-shooting-near-durban/
- Published: 2026-09-23T09:33:24.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-23T09:33:24.000Z
- Description: Eleven people, including a woman believed to be pregnant, were killed when three gunmen opened fire at a house party near Durban. Police have launched a 72-hour manhunt and are examining whether a feud between rival groups led to the attack.
- Author: TGV Desk
- Tags: South Africa, africa, conflict, Violence, Crime, The Day So Far, has-audio

Eleven people have been killed and three others wounded after gunmen opened fire on a house party in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, prompting an intensive search for the attackers.

The shooting occurred on Tuesday night in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha, a township approximately 30 kilometres south of Durban. Police said 13 men and a woman believed to be pregnant were gathered inside the house when three armed men arrived and began shooting.

Ten people, including the woman, died at the scene. Four others were taken to hospital with gunshot injuries, where one subsequently died. The three surviving victims remained under medical care as police began processing the house and surrounding area for evidence.

> South Africa 🇿🇦: Mass shooting in KwaMakhutha south of Durban, KZN leaves 11 dead including a pregnant woman [pic.twitter.com/eSKxJl6lbW](https://t.co/eSKxJl6lbW?ref=theglobalvoice.com)
> 
> — marknehpets (@mapkpets) [September 23, 2026](https://x.com/mapkpets/status/2102655808119218656?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=theglobalvoice.com)

No arrests had been announced at the time of reporting, although investigators said they had identified persons of interest. [Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane ](https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/acting-national-commissioner-lt-gen-puleng-dimpane-vows-bring-women%E2%80%99s-killers?ref=theglobalvoice.com)ordered the provincial police leadership to activate a 72-hour tracking operation to locate the three suspected gunmen.

Police have not established a motive. Preliminary investigations, however, found that some of those at the gathering had previously come to the attention of Crime Intelligence in connection with alleged illegal activities. Authorities have declined to provide further details, saying disclosure could compromise the investigation.

Investigators are examining whether the attack arose from a dispute between rival groups. That remains one line of inquiry rather than a confirmed explanation, and police have not publicly identified the organisations or activities that may have been involved.

The scale and apparent coordination of the shooting suggest that the house was deliberately targeted rather than caught in an indiscriminate attack. The gunmen reportedly entered the property, fired on the people gathered inside and escaped before officers arrived.

The KwaMakhutha killings are the latest in a series of mass shootings that have placed renewed pressure on South Africa’s police and intelligence services. Such attacks are frequently associated with organised crime, competition over illicit businesses, gang disputes, extortion networks or conflicts within the minibus-taxi industry, although the circumstances differ from case to case.

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In June, 12 people were killed and at least nine wounded when more than 10 attackers opened fire at several locations inside the Jumpers informal settlement east of Johannesburg. The gunmen entered through different access points and escaped in a minibus. The motive for that attack was not immediately established.

[South Africa records an average of about 60 murders a day](https://www.khaama.com/south-africa-averaged-nearly-60-murders-a-day-in-april-june-crime-data-shows/?ref=theglobalvoice.com) and has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Although official figures released earlier this year indicated that murders had declined in several major provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape still accounted for more than 80% of the country’s killings.

The availability of illegal firearms remains a central concern. Criminal organisations have obtained weapons through theft, illicit trafficking and the diversion of guns from lawful or state-controlled supplies. The use of multiple attackers and high-powered weapons can make investigations particularly difficult, especially when witnesses fear retaliation.

Police have asked anyone with information about the KwaMakhutha shooting to approach their nearest station or contact the national Crime Stop line.

The investigation will now focus on establishing the identities of the attackers, tracing the weapons used and determining whether the gathering was targeted because of a specific criminal rivalry. Until those questions are answered, the precise reason why 14 people came under fire inside the house remains unknown.