In a tragic incident, police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested three suspects linked to the brutal murder of seven family members.
Image: File
A coordinated effort between police units in KwaZulu-Natal has led to the arrest of three suspects implicated in the murder of seven family members.
The victims, aged between 20 and 83, were kidnapped from their home in Newtown, Newark, on Tuesday night and killed thereafter.
The operation involved SAPS KwaDukuza detectives, the Tactical Response Team (TRT), Provincial Counter Intelligence, the Provincial Counter Kidnapping Unit, and the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, with assistance from an informer network.
The suspects, aged 21, 26 and 28, were arrested following swift investigations and were expected to face multiple charges when they appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda detailed the sequence of events, stating that after the kidnapping, all seven family members were murdered in Melmoth, approximately 200 kilometres from their Newtown home.
The alarm was raised when a domestic worker arrived at the victims’ residence on Wednesday and found the house ransacked and the family missing.
This prompted an immediate response from SAPS Newark investigators.
The investigation team tracked the suspects to the Hlomendlini area, where two suspects were arrested in the afternoon. One was found in possession of a cellphone belonging to one of the victims.
Further leads led police to the Dendetu area in Sundumbili, where the third suspect was arrested in possession of a firearm and eleven stolen cellphones.
Investigations revealed that one of the suspects had been employed by the family.
It was alleged that he, together with his accomplices, broke into the residence and restrained the family members using ropes. One of the suspects raped a 20-year-old woman before the victims were forcibly transported to Melmoth.
Police established that the same victim was raped again in Melmoth by the same suspect.
Three of the victims were forced to provide their bank details and personal identification numbers (PINs), after which financial transactions were made from their accounts.
Three family members were shot dead, while the remaining four were stabbed to death.
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi praised the officers involved for their swift response and emphasised the importance of conducting thorough background checks on individuals employed by families, particularly in rural areas where perpetrators may have easy access to victims.
“Some crimes are difficult for police to prevent; however, if a crime happens, our response must meet the challenge.
“We will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice to ensure that these suspects face the full weight of the law,” Mkhwanazi said.