Three suspects – aged 21, 26 and 28 years – were arrested for reportedly kidnapping and murdering a family of seven in Newark, KZN on Tuesday.

Police reports indicate the victims’ domestic worker arrived at the home on Wednesday morning and discovered the house broken into and the vehicle missing.

Provincial Commissioner of KZN, Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi, said Newark police were called to the scene and various police units activated.

Investigations showed that several bank transfers from the victims accounts were made on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, leading police to Melmoth where the bodies of the victims, aged 20 to 83 years, were discovered.

A swift investigation led them to Hlomendlini area, where two suspects were arrested on Wednesday afternoon – one of whom was in possession of a cellphone belonging to one of the kidnap victims.

Information directed police to Dendetu in Sundumbili, where the third suspect was arrested in possession of a firearm.

A total of 11 cellphones were found with the suspects.

Harrowing experience

“Police discovered that one of the suspects worked for the victims,” said Mkhwanazi.

“He and his accomplices allegedly broke into the victims’ house, tied them up with rope, with one allegedly raping the 20-year-old woman before loading them into the victims’ vehicle and driving to Melmoth, approximately 200km from the scene.”

He said the woman was reportedly raped again by the same man in Melmoth, before he demanded banking details and pins from the victims.

“After collecting the banking details, the suspects shot and killed three victims. The other four victims were brutally stabbed to death,” said Mkhwanazi.

He said it was worrying that one of the suspects was employed by the victims.

“We’re urging employers to do background checks on all the people they employ and to study any suspicious behaviour. In some cases, especially on farms and secluded areas, crimes are committed by people who are familiar to the victims.”

Mkhwanazi said they were analysing all evidence to see if they could be linked to other cases, and were pursuing maximum jail sentences for the accused.

The suspects will appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (Friday).

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