A source close to the family said identified the victims as the Monswamy family of Newark. It is believed a couple, their two son’s, and granny were among the dead.
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THREE suspects, who allegedly kidnapped, robbed, and killed seven family members aged from 20 to 83, from a house in Newtown, in Newark, on Tuesday night, have been arrested following intensive investigations.
It is believed one of the suspects worked for the victims.
A source close to the family identified the victims as the Monswamy family of Newark. It is believed a couple, their two children, and the granny were among the dead.
According to a police report, a domestic worker arrived at the family's home on Wednesday morning and found the house broken into. The seven family members and a vehicle was missing.
Newark police were summoned to the scene and various police units were activated, said the police in the statement.
"Swift police investigations led them to Hlomendlini area where two suspects were arrested on Wednesday afternoon. One of the suspects was found in possession of a cellphone which belonged to one of the kidnapped victims," said the SAPS.
Information directed police investigations to the Dendetu area in Sundumbili where the third suspect was arrested. He was found in possession of a firearm.
A total of 11 cellphones were found in possession of the suspects.
"Police uncovered that one of the suspects worked for the victims. He and his accomplices allegedly broke into the victims’ house, tied them up with a rope and 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, a distance of approximately 200km from the scene.
"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 collecting the banking details, the suspects shot and killed three victims. The other four victims were brutally stabbed to death."
Police also discovered that on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, several bank transfers were made from the victims’ accounts.
The suspects led the police to Melmoth on Wednesday where the bodies of the seven victims - aged between 20 and 83 - were found.
The suspects - aged 21, 26 and 28 - will appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, commended police for the swift arrest of the suspects and instructed the investigating officers to ensure that justice was served so that the families of the victims may get closure.
“Some crimes are difficult for police to prevent. However if a crime happens, police’s reaction capacity must be equal to the task and crack the case. It is worrisome that one of the suspects was employed by the victims. We are urging employers to do background checks on all the people they employ and also study their suspicious behaviour.
"Some cases, especially in the farms and secluded areas, are committed by people who are familiar and close to the victims. Police will leave no stone unturned in quest for a maximum jail sentence for the suspects. We will also analyse every piece of evidence to see if the suspect can be linked to other cases in and around the province”, said Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi.