Eleven Killed in Durban Mass Shooting: Ongoing Police Manhunt

Wed Sep 23 2026 22:18:24 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A brutal raid at a townhouse in KwaMakhutha, near Durban, resulted in eleven deaths, prompting intensive police investigations.

Gunmen stormed a house in KwaMakhutha township late on Tuesday, killing eleven people and injuring others. Police report that the victims, many allegedly involved in illegal activities, were targeted during a party. While motives remain unclear, possible gang rivalries are being investigated. South Africa’s high murder rate and recent violent incidents underscore growing security concerns.

Eleven Killed in Durban Mass Shooting: Ongoing Police Manhunt

Late on Tuesday, armed attackers seized a townhouse in KwaMakhutha, a township just outside Durban, and opened fire, killing eleven residents and wounding several others.

The victims, most of whom were reportedly at a gathering hosted in the house, were taken to hospitals; one of the injured later died, bringing the death toll to eleven.

Authorities say some of the deceased were suspected of involvement in illicit activities, a detail being kept confidential to protect ongoing investigations.

While the exact motive is still being cleared, police have not ruled out gang feuds as a potential trigger for the raid.

In a statement, the police noted that three gunmen arrived at the house, shot the occupants, and set fire to a vehicle belonging to one of the victims before escaping; footage of the arson was released.

South Africa currently reports one of the world’s highest daily murder rates, with over sixty deaths a day, and the recent spate of violent incidents has raised alarms across the country.

An ongoing manhunt has been launched to apprehend the suspects, who remain at large. The incident underscores persistent challenges from organized crime, gang rivalries, drug trafficking, and illegal mining that fuel community violence.