KWAMAKHUTHA — One of the victims was a woman who was believed to be pregnant. Thami Ntuli, the premier of KwaZulu-Natal province, confirmed that the woman who was killed was pregnant. Local broadcaster eNCA reported that attackers forced everyone into a single room before opening fire.

Ntuli described the killings as 'really disturbing' and called on community members to provide information to help find the gunmen. He said there were known problems with drug dealing and illegal firearms in the community. Ntuli stated, 'We will not stop as the government of KwaZulu-Natal to seek solutions.'

Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane ordered a special 72-hour operation to track down the suspects. Dimpane said investigators were following a 'promising lead.' Police stated that some of the victims were known to Crime Intelligence over suspected illegal activities. Police stated that a feud between rival groupings could not be ruled out as a motive. Police are investigating whether the torching of a car near the house was connected to the shooting.

Why It Matters

Official police statistics recorded 5,427 homicides in the three-month period between April and June 2026. Official police figures show an average of 58 people were murdered each day in South Africa between January and March 2026. President Cyril Ramaphosa stated in February 2026 that organized crime was 'the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development.'

In 2025, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, head of Crime Intelligence, testified before the Mkhwanazi Inquiry about challenges in combating organized crime, citing resistance to investigations and political interference within the police service. Crime Intelligence, the division responsible for counter-intelligence and organized crime investigations, has faced multiple scandals in recent years, including allegations of drug trafficking, misuse of resources, and compromised operations.

Timeline

The shooting occurred late Tuesday night in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha township, approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Durban. At least 11 people were killed in a mass shooting at a house party in KwaMakhutha township.

Three other people were wounded in the shooting. Thami Ntuli said officials had met a day earlier to focus on the killings of women in the province. Ten people died at the scene and an 11th person was declared dead at a hospital.

What's New

On Tuesday night, 22 September 2026, at a house in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha, 11 people were killed and three others were injured during a mass shooting, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS). In 1987, the KwaMakhutha massacre resulted in 13 deaths, with evidence suggesting involvement of Inkatha members trained by the South African defense Force (SADF) and collusion by SAP Riot Unit 8 officers.

Thami Ntuli described the killings as 'really disturbing' and called on community members to provide information to help find the gunmen. Ntuli said there were known problems with drug dealing and illegal firearms in the community. Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane said investigators were following a 'promising lead.'

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on location details of the shooting. The South African Police Service statement said the shooting occurred late Tuesday night in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha township, approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Durban.