For some young people in KwaMashu, going to school means more than carrying books and preparing for lessons. It also means navigating an environment where shootings, stabbings, drugs and gang-related intimidation have become part of everyday fe ars. That fear was brought into sharp focus on Tuesday morning when two learners were killed and three others injured in a shooting in Besters, KwaMashu.
Police said about five young people, aged between 16 and 18, were inside a house when unknown gunmen entered and opened fire. A 16-year-old boy died at the scene, while a 16-year-old girl later died in hospital. Three others were injured. Police have opened cases of two murders and three attempted murders. The motive for the shooting had not yet been established.
The victims were learners from Zakhe Secondary School, a school that has produced strong matric results over the years. Official education figures show the school achieved an 86.4% matric pass rate in 2025. But outside the classroom, learners say they face a very different reality. One learner who spoke to Inkundla Yezindaba said violence has become a frightening part of growing up in KwaMashu. The learner, who asked not to be named, said pupils have witnessed shootings and stabbings and that some learners are also robbed of their pocket money. “Since I started high school, there have been a lot of stabbings and shootings. Some fellow students rob us of our pocket money. We are not safe.”
The learner said the situation had become so difficult that he had considered leaving KwaMashu and moving to a rural area where he believes he would feel safer. His concerns point to a bigger problem facing children growing up in areas where criminal groups and drugs are visible in their communities. Some residents also allege that young people can face bullying and intimidation when they refuse to associate with gangs. A community member, whose identity Inkundla Yezindaba is withholding because of safety concerns, said residents are often afraid to challenge criminal activity. The resident alleged that people who speak out against criminal groups can receive threats. “When you try to fight this, you become a target. They warn you to keep quiet because you fear for your life.”
The resident said the situation had become so overwhelming that he was considering selling his home and leaving the area. “I am in the process of selling my house and moving out of this environment,” he said. These allegations could not independently be verified, and police have not linked Tuesday’s shooting to a particular gang or confirmed its motive. Teachers working in communities affected by crime also have to deal with the consequences. Inkundla Yezindabaapproached educators for comment, but some were reluctant to speak publicly because of concerns about their safety.
KwaMashu is home to thousands of young people who want to study, work and build better lives. But residents say the growing exposure to crime, drugs and violence is placing some of those futures at risk. The latest shooting has once again highlighted the need for greater protection of young people not only inside schools, but in the communities where they live.
For the families mourning their children, the consequences will last far beyond Tuesday morning. And for the learners who remain, one question continues to hang over their daily lives:
Will they be safe enough to grow up and realise the future they are working towards?
Police investigations into the shooting are continuing.
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