South African authorities launched an intensive manhunt on May 17, 2025, following a deadly mass shooting that claimed eight lives at a tavern in Umlazi township, south of Durban. The attack, which occurred late on May 16, marks another chapter in the country’s ongoing struggle with gun violence.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), an unknown number of gunmen entered a dwelling at the Zama informal settlement in Umlazi’s U Section and opened fire on patrons. First responders discovered a grim scene with the victims lying in pools of blood, all bearing multiple gunshot wounds.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda indicated that the victims included six men and two women, aged between 22 and 40. Emergency services, including ALS Paramedics, arrived after 9 p.m. to find police had already cordoned off the area.
ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson described the scene as they found it: “Six males and two females were declared deceased on the scene due to the multiple gunshot wounds they had sustained.”
Provincial authorities have assigned a dedicated investigative team to the case, though the motive behind the killings remains unclear. Initial reports suggest robbery was not the primary motive for the attack.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli visited the crime scene on May 17 and emphasized the need for community involvement in combating crime. Ntuli noted that this area had experienced a similar mass killing in 2022, highlighting a troubling pattern of violence in the region.
He stressed that addressing these mass killings requires community cooperation, suggesting that local residents often know the perpetrators but hesitate to identify them to law enforcement.
The shooting has left the Umlazi community deeply shaken. Residents have expressed growing concerns about safety in the township, with many calling for increased police presence and more effective measures to combat violent crime in the area.
The incident reveals the distressing reality of gun violence in South Africa, a nation with one of the world’s highest murder rates. According to police data, the country averages approximately 75 murders daily, with firearms playing a significant role in these deaths.
Government crime statistics show that 6,953 people were murdered in South Africa from October to December 2024 alone. South Africa’s ongoing struggle with violent crime is often linked to gang activity, with shootings frequently occurring at taverns and social gathering places.
The prevalence of both legal and illegal firearms compounds the problem. While many South Africans own licensed firearms for personal protection, authorities believe there are significantly more illegal weapons in circulation throughout the country.
Organizations like Gun Free South Africa have highlighted the alarming rise in gun-related violence, noting that firearms are identified as the primary instrument in over 40% of murders and 58% of attempted murders nationwide.
This latest incident follows several other high-profile shootings in South Africa. In September 2024, gunmen killed seven members of the same family, including three children, in an execution-style attack. In another incident from January 2025, eight people were shot and killed outside a tavern in Pienaar, Mpumalanga.
The Umlazi shooting also comes just weeks after the April 2025 abduction of U.S. missionary Josh Sullivan, who was taken from his church while delivering a sermon. Sullivan was later rescued during a police operation that resulted in the deaths of three suspects.
Visible bullet holes now mark the walls of the tavern where the eight victims lost their lives, a stark reminder of the violence that continues to plague many South African communities.
As of May 19, 2025, police have confirmed that the Umlazi shooting was a targeted attack. A manhunt for the suspects is ongoing.
