Umlazi mass murder: KZN premier condemns ‘barbaric’ attack, calls for action against crime

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has strongly condemned a mass shooting that claimed the lives of eight people at the Zama informal settlement in Umlazi.

Ntuli visited the crime scene in uMlazi’s U Section on Saturday, accompanied by KZN deputy police commissioner Phumelele Makoba, where he described the incident as “barbaric and inhumane”.

According to KZN police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda, officers responding to the scene on Friday evening discovered the bodies of six men and two women, aged between 22 and 40, with multiple gunshot wounds.

“It is reported that the victims were inside the dwelling when an unknown number of suspects entered and opened fire, killing them on the scene,” Netshiunda said.

Two additional victims were hospitalised while three others managed to escape the attack, according to information shared by the premier during his site visit.

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KZN premier reacts to Umlazi mass murder

During his address at the scene, Ntuli emphasised the need for community involvement in combating crime across the province.

“Such a number of people who were shot leaves everyone worried in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. But we need not only to be worried, we must act,” he stated.

The premier urged citizens to collaborate with law enforcement to identify criminals in their communities.

“Let’s mobilise each and every society in the province to understand that if we don’t stand together, this is going to continue, and we don’t know who’s the next victim,” he said.

Ntuli stressed the importance of public vigilance and cooperation with authorities.

“It’s better that you stand up while you’re alive to ensure that we expose the criminals to the police so that they are arrested, they are removed, they are isolated from the community.”

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Zero tolerance for crime

The premier called for a comprehensive approach to combating crime in the province, advocating for communities to take a stand against all forms of illegal activity.

“No one must have an illegal gun, no one must have illegal ammunition, no one in fact must commit crime in the area, no one must actually be drug addicts, no one must be a drug dealer in the area, people must live in harmony,” Ntuli declared.

He expressed confidence that the province could overcome its crime challenges through collective effort.

“We can achieve that if all of us in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, we can stand together and say enough is enough when it comes to crime and support our police because they are doing good work.”

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Umlazi mass murder investigation underway

When questioned about potential motives behind the shooting, Ntuli indicated that investigations were still in preliminary stages.

“Not yet, except that the information we have is that eight people were shot dead and then two are hospitalised, three escaped, and then they are following up on the information that pieces of information,” he reiterated.

“I want to believe that one of the pieces of information will deliver desirable results.”

The premier pledged the full support of the provincial government to assist police in their investigation and has instructed law enforcement to “leave no stone unturned” in their pursuit of the perpetrators.

Authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects while investigations into the possible motive continue.

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