Seven members of the same family have been found dead after being kidnapped from their home in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and executed in a nearby town. Police have arrested three suspects, aged 21, 26, and 28, on charges including rape and murder.
The incident occurred on 21 April at a property in Newtown, Newark. A domestic worker arrived the following morning to find the house broken into and seven family members missing, along with a vehicle. Police were summoned and launched a massive search involving various units and private security partners.
The suspects led police to Melmoth, approximately 200 kilometres from the scene, where the bodies of the victims, aged between 20 and 83, were found. According to police, the victims were tied up with rope, and a 20-year-old woman was raped at the house and again in Melmoth.
The suspects allegedly demanded bank details and personal identification numbers from three victims before shooting them dead. The other four family members were stabbed to death. Police investigations revealed that one of the suspects worked for the family, and several bank transfers were made from the victims' accounts on the night of the kidnapping.
The three suspects are expected to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Friday. They were found in possession of a firearm and 11 mobile phones, including one belonging to a victim.
