| Ntabankulu Primary School shooting | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ntabankulu Primary School, Ntabankulu, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Date | January 22, 2026 c.12:00 p.m. (SAST) |
| Target | Staff |
Attack type | School shooting, mass shooting, murder–suicide |
| Deaths | 4 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 0 |
| Perpetrator | Ntuthuzelo Gcaba |
| Motive | Under investigation |
On January 22, 2026, a school shooting occurred at the Ntabankulu Primary School in Ntabankulu, Eastern Cape, South Africa, killing three teachers. The perpetrator killed himself.
School shootings are rare in South Africa, with only five being reported since 1994, which resulted in eight deaths in total. [1] Most school shootings in the country are gang-related. [2]
Around midday, the shooter broke into the school by cutting through the perimeter fence. He then proceeded to enter a staff meeting in the cafeteria and open fire before killing himself. [3] [4] [5]
Four people were killed, including the perpetrator. Two people, including the perpetrator, were pronounced dead on scene, while the two other victims died in hospital, including one a day after the shooting who initially survived with critical injuries. [6] The victims were identified as 52-year-old Nontombizonke Nonkondlo, a state witness in the sexual assault case against the perpetrator, 64-year-old Nolumanyano Nonyameko Matanzima, a grade one teacher who worked at the school for 17 years and was due to retire in June, and 52-year-old Buyiswa Nkqayi-Diko, the school's head of department for the foundation phase. [7]
The perpetrator was identified as 51-year-old Ntuthuzelo Gcaba, a former employee at the school who was fired in 2023 following sexual assault charges and was out on bail at the time. [7] [4] [5]
South African Police Service confirmed that the case is being investigated under two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and an inquest docket relating to the suspect's death. The investigation into the full circumstances surrounding the attack is ongoing. Police cordoned off the school as forensic experts processed the crime scene. [4] [8]