At least 11 people have been killed and three injured after gunmen opened fire on a house in KwaMakhutha, a township south of Durban in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. The deadly shooting took place late on Tuesday night, September 22, at a house where people had gathered.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the victims were inside a house in KwaMakhutha’s Ziko neighbourhood when three armed men arrived at the property and opened fire. 13 men and one woman at the event (who was believed to be pregnant) were at the meeting, police said. Ten people were killed at the scene, and four people were taken to hospital. One of them died later of injuries, and the death toll was 11.
The three other injured victims were being treated at hospital, but authorities did not give any immediate information about their conditions. The attack has triggered a huge police investigation and a manhunt for the suspects. Acting National Commissioner of SAPS Lieutenant General Puleng Puleng Dimpane has directed authorities to activate a 72-hour tracking operation to locate and arrest those responsible.
Pregnant Woman Among Those Killed
The most disturbing aspect of the incident is that the sole female victim was pregnant. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli confirmed a pregnant woman was among those killed in the attack. The victims were gathered at the house shortly before 11 pm local time when the gunmen entered and started shooting.
The attackers forced people into a room and opened fire, police said. But investigators have not publicly disclosed all the details of how the shooting took place. The police have cordoned off the area, and forensic teams are working to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Motive Still Under Investigation
Police have not yet found a clear motive for the mass shooting. Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the victims were known to Crime Intelligence in connection with illegal activity, according to police.
A dispute between rival groups has also been identified as the reason for the shooting, SAPS said. There is no reason for the motive to be clear, but a feud between rival groups cannot be ruled out. It is expected to be examined if there is any link to organised crime, rival groups and illegal firearms in the investigation.
Police Launch Major Manhunt
Police have since launched a manhunt for the unidentified suspects, SAPS said. SAPS is asking for people who can provide them with credible information in case those involved have information to help the investigators identify and pinpoint the attackers. They also asked anyone who has any relevant information to contact the police or use official anonymous reporting channels.
Families and residents are shocked by the slayings. Community members gathered near the scene as authorities identified the victims. Relatives were out there to find their loved ones who were killed in the attack, local reports said.
The KwaMakhutha shooting was the latest of a series of mass shootings that have made violent crime and the proliferation of illegal firearms in South Africa a very real issue. Police and authorities have long identified firearms and organised criminal activity as serious obstacles to reducing violent crime in society.
So investigators are trying to determine the gunmen’s motive and whether or not they were specifically targeted. Police have said the investigation is ongoing and will not stop until the culprits are found.
