Acting Police Commissioner Orders 72-Hour Manhunt After 11 Killed in KwaMakhutha

• Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane ordered a 72-hour tracking operation after gunmen killed 11 people in KwaMakhutha
• At least three attackers opened fire on a group gathered at a residence in the Ziko area, leaving four others injured
• KwaZulu-Natal police have not ruled out gang rivalry, with Crime Intelligence previously flagging several victims for illegal activities

KWAZULU-NATAL — Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane has commanded law enforcement units to execute an intensive 72-hour track-and-trace mission to capture the syndicate responsible for the execution-style murder of 11 individuals in KwaMakhutha.

Dimpane's directive instructs specialised task teams to deploy all operational assets across KwaZulu-Natal to apprehend the assailants. According to National Police Spokesperson Nonkululeko Phokane, detective units are currently pursuing a vital lead aimed at cracking the case, reinforcing that state security forces will maintain relentless pressure until the culprits face judicial proceedings.

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11 people shot dead in KwaMakhutha house attack, pregnant woman among victims

What happened in KwaMakhutha?

The bloodshed unfolded in the township's Ziko section, where a trio of armed men infiltrated a property and unleashed a barrage of bullets on approximately 14 attendees. Ten individuals—including an expectant mother—died instantly inside the yard. Paramedics transported four survivors to local health facilities, where one person later died from fatal gunshot wounds.

While tactical teams carry out the manhunt, provincial police are probing potential triggers for the assault. KwaZulu-Natal Police Spokesperson Robert Netshiunda indicated that investigators have not eliminated inter-gang warfare, revealing that Crime Intelligence records show several deceased victims were already under surveillance for illicit conduct.

Local residents alerted Premier Thami Ntuli during his visit to the crime scene that the enclave suffers from routine night-time shooting, rampant illicit narcotics, and unlicensed weapons. Ntuli promised rapid interventions, while authorities urged community members to supply confidential intel to assist in the 72-hour manhunt.

Read Dimpane's announcement on Facebook here:

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Mkhwanazi meets families of Ekurhuleni murders' victims

In a related article, Briefly News reported on KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s meeting with the families of two alleged sexual offence victims. The meeting followed the arrest of a 59-year-old senior SAPS officer at a Sandton club.

The case involves allegations concerning the sexual grooming of a 16-year-old girl and the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman. SAPS has arranged psychosocial support for the victims and their families as the sensitive matter proceeds to court.

Source: Briefly News