A 19-year-old Grade 10 pupil was shot dead in front of classmates at Ndengezi Intermediate School in KwaNdengezi, west of Pinetown, on Monday morning, 14 September 2026. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that KwaNdengezi police have opened a case of murder and are searching for a suspect who fled wearing the same school uniform as the victim.
Netshiunda said the victim and the suspect were seen entering the school premises together shortly before the shooting. The suspect allegedly shot the victim multiple times before fleeing, and the victim was declared dead at the scene.
“Police in KwaNdengezi have opened a case of murder. It is alleged that the victim and the suspect were seen entering the school premises together when the suspect shot the victim several times and the victim was declared dead at the scene. The suspect, who was wearing the same school uniform, fled the scene.”
No arrest had been made by the time police issued the statement on Monday. The motive for the killing remains under investigation and detectives are following leads around the school.
The KwaZulu-Natal Education Department confirmed that the victim was enrolled in Grade 10 at the school. Department officials did not comment further on the circumstances of the shooting, saying the matter is with the police.
KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka said the department was providing support to the school community. In a statement issued on Monday, Hlomuka described the shooting as devastating and called for calm.
“The loss of a learner is always devastating, but for such a tragedy to occur within the school environment is particularly distressing. I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of this young learner. My heartfelt condolences go to the learner’s family, friends, fellow learners, educators and the entire Ndengezi Intermediate School community during this extremely difficult time.”
Hlomuka also asked residents not to share unverified information on social media while police investigate. He said the department would continue to provide support to the affected school and work with authorities on school safety.
“I urge everyone to allow law enforcement officials to conduct their investigation without interference. I also appeal to members of the community to refrain from sharing unverified information, particularly on social media, as this may cause further pain and distress to the bereaved family and the school community.”
The shooting is the latest violent incident on a South African school campus this year, adding to ongoing concerns about weapons entering school grounds. That the suspect was wearing the same uniform as the victim has raised questions about access control, although police have not confirmed that the suspect is a learner at the school.
Police have not released the victim’s name, and it remains unclear what relationship existed between the two teenagers before Monday morning. The exact location of the shooting inside the school premises has also not been disclosed.
Cape Flats News verified the police account against the provincial education department’s confirmation and the MEC’s statement. Cape Flats News was not at the scene in KwaNdengezi; the details come from the official SAPS statement and the KZN Education Department.
Still unknown is whether the suspect is a registered learner at Ndengezi Intermediate School and how the firearm was brought onto the premises. Cape Flats News will check with KwaNdengezi SAPS for an update by 18:00 on Monday.