Fourteen people died and six were wounded in three separate shooting incidents in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday. According to police reports, eleven people died in KwaMakhutha, two in Ntuzuma, and one in Newlands East. The incidents have sparked a manhunt for the perpetrators, with police forensic teams gathering evidence at the scenes.
The first incident occurred in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, on Tuesday night. Eleven people were shot and killed, and three were injured. Police said information available at this stage suggests that thirteen men and one woman, who is believed to have been pregnant, were reportedly having a party at a house when three men arrived and shot at them. Ten victims, including the woman, died at the scene, and four were taken to hospital, where one of them succumbed to gunshot injuries.
Some of the dead victims in the KwaMakhutha incident were on the radar of the South African Police Service's (SAPS) Crime Intelligence for illegal activities. Although the motive of the shooting cannot be confirmed yet, a feud between rival groupings cannot be ruled out. Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police are still investigating the incident and have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators.
In Newlands East, Durban, a 45-year-old Congolese man was shot dead on Tuesday. According to a source, the man was a full-time bodyguard and also recruited others for bodyguard services. The source said the man and a colleague had received a call about a possible business opportunity, and was given a Google Map pin location to meet the client. The man was shot when he arrived at the location, and police believe more than ten shots were fired.
The gunmen fled the scene in the victim's vehicle, and police are investigating a case of murder, attempted murder, and carjacking. Captain Ntathu Ndlovu said the motive for the incident is unknown at this stage, and no arrests have been made yet. The incident is being investigated by Newlands East Police.
In Ntuzuma, two people died and three were injured in a shooting incident. Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Magwaza said Ntuzuma SAPS are investigating two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder following an incident which took place at Bester. A group of approximately five boys and girls aged between 16 and 18 years old were inside a house, allegedly smoking, when a group of unknown suspects entered and shot them.
The neighbourhood watch in the area has urged parents to monitor their children's whereabouts and ensure that they are in school. Andile Jali, spokesperson for eThekwini Neighbourhood Watch, alleged that several children had truanted from school and gone to the house where they socialised and used drugs. The area is reportedly rife with drug users, and the neighbourhood watch is calling for greater community vigilance.
Key points
- Fourteen people died in three separate shooting incidents in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday.
- The motives for the shootings are still unknown, but police are investigating possible links to rival groupings and illegal activities.
- Police have launched manhunts for the perpetrators and are urging community members to come forward with information.
