Wednesday, 23 September 2026: The South African Communist Party (SACP) condemns the mass shooting in a house in KwaMakhutha township, KwaZulu-Natal, which led to the killing of 11 people, including a pregnant woman, and the injuring of three last night. The attackers are reported to have also burnt a car belonging to one of the victims.

The SACP conveys its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes speedy recovery for the injured.

It is concerning that crime remains one of the most serious manifestations of the crisis rooted in the capitalist system and deeply burdens working-class communities. Violent crimes such as murder, carjacking, and robbery remain intolerably high, and unless the systemic capitalist crisis engulfing our country is addressed, we are likely to see the situation worsen.

The SACP calls upon law enforcement authorities to hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice. As initial investigations point towards a feud between rival groupings as an element in these killings, the SACP calls for concerted efforts to rid our country of the culture of gangsterism, which should have no place in the lives of the people. It is particularly working-class communities in the townships that bear the heavy impact of such crimes, and, as such, law enforcement must be improved in townships and rural areas to prevent crime.

The SACP calls upon the working class to join it in a new front of class struggle, to be organised in order to prevent all forms of crime and strengthen their democratic participation in building a state that safeguards their interests, including the right to safety and security. Our law enforcement agencies must be strengthened enough to dismantle organised criminal networks and reduce threats to working-class and rural communities.

We reiterate our call for community safety structures, accountable policing, properly resourced police stations, survivor-centred services for victims of violence and decisive action against infrastructure crime and extortion. Towards this end, we make the further call upon our structures in the districts and sub-districts to intensify the campaign to end crime and violence in our communities through the organising of street communities and patrols. As part of the responsibility to shape their own communities, we encourage the people of our country to take the opportunity to register for the special vote, as it remains open until 12 October, so that they can be eligible to cast their special votes on 2-3 November.