Political outrage is mounting after 11 people were shot dead and three others wounded in a mass shooting in the Ziko area of KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, on Tuesday night.
The gunmen opened fire on a group of people before setting a vehicle alight and fleeing the scene.
Emergency services confirmed 11 fatalities at the scene, with three survivors taken to hospital with gunshot wounds.
The scale of the killings has left the community reeling and sparked angry reaction from political parties demanding urgent action against violent crime and illegal firearms.
The SAPS said some of the victims were known to Crime Intelligence in connection with alleged illegal activities.
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Nichunda said investigators had not ruled out a gang feud.
Investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a feud between rival gangs or groupings, Nichunda said.
One community member claimed the attack could be linked to drug-related killings, but police have not confirmed a motive.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier and Inkatha Freedom Party member Thamsanqa Ntuli visited the area and condemned the massacre, saying it had left families shattered and residents living in fear.
“Losing a family member is painful to parents and even the community. It leaves the community to live in fear because they don’t know who is next,” Ntuli said.
RISE Mzansi has demanded a crackdown on illegal guns and criminal networks operating in KwaZulu-Natal.
In a statement, the party said the shooting was a stark reminder that illegal firearms continue to fuel mass violence in South Africa, and called on law enforcement to intensify intelligence-led operations to disarm communities.
RISE Mzansi National Assembly Whip Makashule Gana said the country could not normalise such bloodshed.
“The frequency of such violence requires decisive action and greater accountability from those responsible for keeping communities safe,” Gana said.
The party also called for residents to be supported to work with police and for community safety to be prioritised by local government.
Tuesday’s shooting is the latest in a wave of mass killings that have plagued KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces in recent months. KwaMakhutha, a township south of Durban, has long been associated by residents with problems including drugs and illegal firearms, although police say that has not yet been established as a motive in this case.
Residents interviewed in the aftermath said they fear retaliation and further violence, with many questioning whether they are safe in their own homes.
Police have deployed additional resources to the area, with crime scene experts and detectives combing the area for evidence. No arrests had been made by Wednesday afternoon.
The SAPS said a task team had been established to track down the suspects and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Community leaders have called for calm while demanding that government address the root causes of gang violence, including unemployment, the drug trade and the proliferation of illegal firearms.
Opposition parties say the massacre exposes the failure of crime prevention strategies in hotspot areas, where mass shootings have become increasingly frequent.
With three survivors still fighting for their lives in hospital, pressure is mounting on Police Minister and KwaZulu-Natal law enforcement leadership to provide answers on what triggered the Ziko killings and what is being done to prevent the next mass shooting.
Police investigations continue.
