Police arrested a fourth suspect in Durban yesterday (June 23) in connection with the murders of seven members of the Monswamy family.

According to iLembe police spokesperson Priya Nunkumar, the 24-year-old suspect had been on the run since the April 21 murders of the Monswamy family in Newark, KwaDukuza.

She said the suspect has been charged with kidnapping, house robbery and murder and is expected to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court.

The arrest comes after three co-accused, Bongumenzi Mpungose (27), Linda Blessing Mthiyane (28) and Mthandeni Luyanda Mthiyane (21), made their second appearance in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where they were remanded in custody.

The trio face charges of housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, seven counts of murder and seven counts of kidnapping. Mpungose also faces an additional charge of rape, while Luyanda Mthiyane has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

The accused are linked to the deaths of Alan 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).

Investigators allege the victims were kidnapped from their Newark home before being transported to Melmoth, where they were murdered.