2 pupils killed as gunmen shoot five inside a house in KZN, South Africa

Two high school pupils were killed and three others injured in a shooting near Zakhe Secondary School in KwaMashu, north of Durban, on Tuesday, 22 September, according to reports citing South African authorities.

The pupils were reportedly on their way to school when gunmen opened fire outside the school. A 16-year-old boy died at the scene, while a 16-year-old girl was later declared dead at hospital. Three other pupils were taken to hospital for treatment.

Police opened a case involving two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. The motive for the shooting had not been established, and no arrests had been reported at the time of publication.

KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka condemned the attack and said the department would work with law-enforcement agencies and the school community to assess security arrangements and strengthen the protection of learners and staff.

The shooting occurred amid wider concern about violence affecting schools in KwaZulu-Natal. Separately, the South African government condemned an unrelated shooting in KwaMakhutha on the same night that left 11 people dead and three injured.