A manhunt is underway in Umlazi, south of Durban, after eight people were shot and killed in a mass shooting at Zama informal settlement in U Section on the evening of Friday, 16 May 2025.
Umlazi mass shooting: Here’s what we know at this time
According to police, officers responded to reports of a shooting and found six men and two women dead inside a house. The victims, aged between 22 and 40, had multiple gunshot wounds.
Early reports suggest that the group had been socialising and drinking together when unknown suspects entered and opened fire.
KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the killings and said investigations are ongoing.
“Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects. The motive for the shooting is not yet known, but at this stage, robbery does not appear to be the reason.”
Authorities are appealing to the public for any information that might help identify or locate those responsible.
As of now, there have been no arrests.
Why Umlazi is one of the most dangerous precincts in the country
This incident is not isolated. Umlazi is one of the most crime-affected areas in South Africa. It ranks seventh in the country for overall violent crimes, and it’s second nationally in two categories: attempted murder and sexual offences.
Between October and December 2024, police at Umlazi Station recorded:
- 54 murders
- 149 attempted murders (a 23% increase from the same period the year before)
- 93 sexual offences
In total, 954 contact crimes (which include murder, rape, and assault) were reported during this period—a 10.5% increase from the previous year.
KwaZulu-Natal as a whole also ranks high in violent crime. In the third quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year:
- 1,493 murders were recorded across the province
- 1,915 attempted murders
- 2,818 sexual offences
KZN has the second highest murder rate in the country and the highest number of attempted murders.
These figures point to ongoing issues such as gang violence, personal disputes, and high levels of community tension.
The recent mass shooting in Umlazi is yet another sign of the violence plaguing the area, and police efforts to find those responsible are now in full force.
