By Mapaballo Borotho
- Three suspects have been arrested for the kidnapping and killing of seven family members in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Police say one of the suspects worked for the family and helped orchestrate the crime.
- The victims were found in Melmoth after being forced to hand over banking details, with suspects expected in court.
Three people have been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal for the kidnapping and killing of seven family members earlier this week.
Initial reports indicate the family was reported missing on Wednesday morning, 22 April 2026, after their domestic worker discovered their home had been broken into.
“Police investigations led them to the Hlomendlini area, where two suspects were arrested on Wednesday afternoon. One of the suspects was found in possession of a cellphone belonging to one of the victims,” said KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The third suspect was found in the Dendetu area in Sundumbili. He was found in possession of a firearm and a total of eleven cellphones.
Investigations further revealed that one of the suspects was known to the victims and had worked for the family, whose ages range between 20 and 83.
Police allege that the suspects broke into the home, tied the victims up and forced them into a vehicle belonging to one of the family members before driving to Melmoth, about 200km away.
“One of them allegedly raped the 20-year-old woman before loading them onto a vehicle belonging to one of the victims, and drove to Melmoth. Police also unearthed that the same suspect who raped the 20-year-old at the house, raped her again in Melmoth, before demanding banking details and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) from three victims.
After obtaining the victims’ banking details, they fatally shot three victims and stabbed four others to death.
Police say money was transferred from the victims’ bank accounts into other accounts.
The suspects, aged 21, 26 and 28, are expected to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 24 April 2026.
“Some crimes are difficult for police to prevent, but when they occur, police must respond decisively and crack the case. It is deeply concerning that one of the suspects was employed by the victims,” said Mkhwanazi.
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