Three suspects have been arrested by KZN police for a crime spree in which seven members of a family were kidnapped and killed.
Image: File
A joint police operation has led to the arrest of three suspects following a harrowing night of violence in which seven family members were kidnapped from their home in Newark, KwaZulu-Natal, before being executed in Melmoth.
The arrests come after an intensive investigation involving the Provincial Counter Kidnapping Unit, KwaDukuza Detectives, and the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit. The suspects, aged 21, 26, and 28, are expected to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 24 April 2026 facing charges of kidnapping, murder, rape, and robbery.
The nightmare began on Tuesday night, April 21, at a property in Newtown, Newark on the KZN north coast. According to police reports, a domestic worker arrived at the residence on Wednesday morning to find the house broken into and seven family members missing, along with a vehicle. Newark police were immediately summoned, triggering a massive search involving various police units and private security partners.
Investigations revealed a chilling series of events. One of the suspects was reportedly an employee of the victims.
After breaking into the home and tying the victims up with rope, one of the suspects allegedly raped a 20-year-old woman. The group was then loaded into a victim’s vehicle and driven approximately 200km to Melmoth.
According to the police:
Digital forensics showed that several bank transfers were made from the victims' accounts throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Police tracked two suspects to the Hlomendlini area on Wednesday afternoon. One was found in possession of a victim's cellphone. A third suspect was later apprehended in Sundumbili, found with a firearm. In total, 11 cellphones were recovered from the trio. The victims, whose ages range from 20 to 83, were discovered in Melmoth later that day after the suspects led police to the site.
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, commended the swift response but expressed deep concern over the "inside" nature of the crime. "It is worrisome that one of the suspects was employed by the victims," Mkhwanazi said.
"We are urging employers to do background checks on all the people they employ and also study their suspicious behaviour."
The commissioner noted that crimes in secluded areas are often committed by those familiar with the victims. He vowed that police would push for the "maximum jail sentence" and are currently analysing evidence to link the suspects to other crimes in the province.
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