The seven family members who were killed and whose bodies were discovered in Melmoth on Wednesday have been identified.

The Witness reports that the victims from Newark are Allen Monswamy (52), his wife Sandy (57), their children Kraidon (26) and Shamaria (20), as well as relatives Gonosagren Padayachee (51), Mooniamma Padayachee (78) and Mariama Happanah (83).

Three suspects, aged 21, 26 and 28, have since been arrested and are set to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.

Newark Community Policing Forum chairperson Vusi Mawela said the family was well known in the community and had played a significant role in providing employment to local residents.

He said he last saw Allen on Monday when he was fetching the suspects for work.

Mawela said Allen was a businessman and worked with municipal contracts and Eskom, doing maintenance work on their sites in the area.

He said the family lived on a farm in Newark, not far from the local police station and garage.

“They were a very decent family. Allen had an established business doing maintenance work for Eskom and the municipality, through which he provided employment in the area. We are shocked by this crime, which has claimed an entire family. It is tragic,” said Mawela.

He added that the suspects had been working for the family since around October last year.

The crime came to light yesterday when the family’s domestic worker arrived at the home and noticed something was wrong.

“She found the bakkie missing, the door open and the house untidy, with items were all over the place. She then alerted and contacted the police,” Mawela said.

Police confirmed that the victims were abducted from their home in Newark on Tuesday night before being taken to Melmoth, where they were killed.

An intensive investigation involving Newark police, KwaDukuza detectives and specialised provincial units led to the arrest of three suspects.

“Swift police investigations led officers to the Hlomendlini area, where two suspects were arrested on Wednesday afternoon,” police said.

One of the suspects was found in possession of a cellphone belonging to one of the victims. Further information led police to the Dendetu area in Sundumbili, where a third suspect was arrested.

He was found in possession of a firearm, and a total of 11 cellphones were recovered.

Police said one of the suspects had been employed by the family.

“He and his accomplices allegedly broke into the victims’ home, tied them up and raped the 20-year-old woman before forcing the victims into a vehicle and driving them to Melmoth,” police said.

Authorities added that the same victim was allegedly raped again in Melmoth before the suspects demanded banking details and PINs from some of the victims.

“After obtaining the banking details, the suspects shot three victims and stabbed the remaining four to death,” police said.

Financial transactions were made from the victims’ accounts between Tuesday night and yesterday morning.

The suspects later led police to the location in Melmoth, where the bodies of all seven victims, aged between 20 and 83, were found.

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi commended officers for their swift response and arrests, and urged investigators to build a strong case.

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