South African police have launched a 72-hour manhunt for suspects who allegedly stormed a house in KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, and opened fire on people gathered inside, killing 11 and leaving three others injured.
The attack happened on Tuesday night in the Ziko area, sending shockwaves through the community and prompting the South African Police Service (SAPS) to mobilise additional resources in an urgent bid to track down those responsible.
Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Puleng Dimpane has directed the KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner to immediately activate the 72-hour tracking operation.
The operation is aimed at identifying, tracing and arresting the suspects behind the mass shooting.
Dimpane said police must move swiftly to ensure that those responsible face criminal charges.
“There is no place in our communities for the senseless taking of human lives. Police must act decisively, mobilise all available resources and pursue those responsible until they are brought before the courts,” said Dimpane.
She said investigators were following a lead that could assist police in making a breakthrough in the case.
“We are confident that investigators are following a promising lead which could assist in securing a breakthrough in this case,” she said.
The motive for the shooting has not yet been established.
Police have not disclosed the identities or number of suspects being pursued, while the circumstances leading up to the attack remain under investigation.
The 11 people who were killed were inside the house when the gunmen allegedly opened fire.
Three other people sustained injuries and were taken for medical treatment.
Dimpane expressed concern over the scale of the attack and extended condolences to the families of those killed.
She also wished those injured a speedy recovery.
The latest mass shooting adds to a long-running concern over gun violence in KwaZulu-Natal, where police have repeatedly been called to investigate deadly attacks involving multiple victims.
However, SAPS has not indicated whether Tuesday night’s shooting is linked to any other incidents or whether the victims were specifically targeted.
Investigators are now working to establish what happened before the gunmen entered the property, how many people were involved in the attack and what may have motivated the killings.
SAPS has appealed to residents in KwaMakhutha and surrounding areas to come forward with information that could help investigators identify and locate the suspects.
Police urged members of the public to provide only reliable and credible information to the investigating team.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Members of the public can alternatively submit anonymous information through the MySAPS app.
Police said information from the community could prove critical in helping investigators piece together the events surrounding the shooting and identify those responsible.
The Acting National Commissioner said SAPS would continue deploying resources until the suspects were arrested.
“SAPS will not relent in its efforts to ensure that those responsible for this attack are brought to justice,” the police statement said.
As the 72-hour operation gets under way, investigators face the urgent task of following leads while also establishing the motive behind one of the deadliest attacks reported in the KwaMakhutha area.
The investigation remains ongoing.
