Durban, South Africa: At least 11 people were killed and three others injured after three armed men opened fire on a group gathered at a house in KwaMakhutha township, south of Durban, on Tuesday night, September 22, 2026. South African police have launched a manhunt for the suspects and are investigating what may have led to the deadly attack.
The shooting occurred in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha, in KwaZulu-Natal province. Police said 14 people were at the property when the attackers arrived and opened fire. Ten victims died at the scene, while one of the four people taken to hospital later died from gunshot wounds.
Three Gunmen Attacked House Gathering
According to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, preliminary information indicates that 13 men and one woman believed to be pregnant were attending a gathering at the house when three armed men entered and began shooting.
The attack happened shortly before 11 p.m. on Tuesday. Police have not yet publicly identified the suspects, and the investigation remains active. Officers are searching for the three attackers as part of a continuing manhunt.
Ten of the victims, including the woman believed to be pregnant, died at the scene. Four people were transported to hospital, but one later died from the injuries. Three survivors remain part of the ongoing police investigation and medical response.
Motive Has Not Been Confirmed
Police have not yet established why the house was targeted.
Colonel Netshiunda said investigators could not confirm the motive at this stage, although a possible feud between rival groups could not be ruled out. This remains a police line of inquiry rather than an established explanation for the attack.
Police also said that some of the victims had previously appeared on the radar of Crime Intelligence in connection with alleged illegal activities. Authorities did not release further details, saying that information could affect the investigation.
Because the investigation is still at an early stage, it is not yet possible to determine whether those alleged connections were related to the shooting.
Police Search for Three Suspects
Law-enforcement teams have been working at the scene to collect evidence and trace the gunmen.
Police are examining the property and surrounding area as they attempt to reconstruct the attack. Evidence gathered at the scene could help investigators determine the direction of the attackers, the weapons used and whether the victims were specifically targeted.
The three suspects remained at large in the latest reports, and no arrests had been announced by Wednesday morning.
Authorities have appealed for information that could help identify or locate those responsible.
Community Left in Shock
The attack has deeply affected residents of KwaMakhutha.
A local resident told eNCA that some of those killed were people he had known while growing up in the area. He described the incident as shocking and said families were struggling to understand how such a large group could be attacked at a home gathering.
The deaths have also raised concerns about the safety of communities where organised criminal groups and illegal firearms are present.
KwaZulu-Natal authorities are expected to engage with community representatives and affected families as the investigation continues.
Pregnant Woman Among the Victims
One of the most painful details confirmed by police is that a woman believed to be pregnant was among those killed.
Police said she was the only woman among the 14 people gathered at the house. Her death has added to the public shock surrounding the attack.
Authorities have not publicly released the identities of the victims in the initial reports.
Victim identification and notification of relatives are expected to continue as part of the police and forensic process.
Shooting Adds to South Africa’s Crime Concerns
The South Africa township shooting has again drawn attention to the country’s serious violent-crime problem.
Reuters reported that South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates, with an average of around 60 killings a day. Violent crime remains a major concern for communities and is also an important issue ahead of South Africa’s municipal elections scheduled for November.
Mass shootings are less common than the country’s broader pattern of homicide, but attacks involving multiple victims have repeatedly raised questions about illegal firearms, organised crime and police capacity.
The latest case is therefore being viewed within a wider national debate about public safety.
KwaZulu-Natal Faces Continuing Violence
KwaZulu-Natal has experienced several serious shootings in recent years, including attacks believed by authorities to involve criminal groups.
Police have previously conducted intelligence-led operations against suspects linked to armed robberies, kidnappings and other violent crimes in the wider Durban region. However, those earlier cases are separate from the KwaMakhutha shooting unless investigators establish a connection.
The current investigation will therefore focus on the facts surrounding the September 22 attack rather than assuming a link to previous incidents.
Officials Expected to Assess Security Situation
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli said he would visit the scene and engage with law-enforcement officials, community representatives and affected families, according to local reports.
Such visits are often intended to assess immediate community concerns and review the response by police and other emergency services.
Officials are also expected to examine whether additional policing measures are needed in the affected area.
Investigation Still in Early Stages
Several important questions remain unanswered.
Police have not yet confirmed the identities of the three attackers, the weapons used, the exact motive or whether the victims were deliberately targeted because of their alleged connections to criminal activity.
Investigators will need to determine the individual circumstances of every victim and examine forensic and witness evidence before reaching conclusions.
The suggestion that the shooting may have resulted from a feud between rival groups is currently a preliminary police possibility, not a confirmed motive.
What Happens Next?
The police manhunt is expected to continue as investigators search for the three suspects.
Authorities will likely examine forensic evidence from the house, interview surviving witnesses and review information about movements in and around KwaMakhutha at the time of the shooting.
The three injured survivors may also provide important information about what happened before, during and immediately after the attack, although their medical condition will remain a priority.
For the families of the victims, the immediate focus is on identifying loved ones and understanding what led to the violence.
The KwaMakhutha township shooting has left at least 11 people dead and three injured, while the motive and identities of the attackers remain unknown. Police have confirmed that a manhunt is underway, and the investigation is expected to provide more answers as evidence is gathered.
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