Durban Mass Shooting Leaves 11 Dead Including Pregnant Woman
Last update: September 23, 2026
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You pop round to a mates house for a party on a quiet Tuesday night just south of Durban expecting music and chat and you never make it home.
According to sources, three gunmen stormed a house in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha township on Tuesday night where 14 people were gathered.
Thirteen men and one woman who is believed to have been pregnant were inside. The attackers opened fire with pistols and rifles and set a victims vehicle alight before fleeing.
Ten people died at the scene. Four were rushed to hospital where one later died. That takes the toll to 11 dead and three injured.
Neighbours told eNCA crews who arrived at the scene that this was a normal residential street. Among the victims was a young woman thought to be pregnant. Families have been left waiting outside the house for answers while forensics worked inside. It is a reminder that behind the numbers are real lives cut short.
South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world. Police data shows more than 60 people are killed every single day. In recent weeks the country has been rattled by the discovery of at least nine murdered women with some bodies dumped by the roadside. For many South Africans safety at home feels fragile.
Police in KwaZulu Natal say they cannot yet confirm a motive but they are not ruling out a feud between rival groupings. They also said some of the victims were on their watchlist in connection with illegal activities but they would not divulge details to protect the investigation. Rivalry between criminal gangs over turf, drug trafficking and illegal mining is a persistent driver of violence in communities around Durban and Johannesburg.
This is not isolated. Last year nine people were killed in a mass shooting at a tavern in Johannesburg. In February President Cyril Ramaphosa described organised crime as the most immediate threat to democracy, society and economic development and announced plans to deploy the army to support police.
Police say a full manhunt is under way for the three suspects. Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. We will bring you updates as soon as KwaZulu Natal police release more details.
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