Three people are expected to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on the KZN North Coast on Friday in connection with the brutal murders of seven people.
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KwaZulu-Natal police have confirmed that the suspects implicated in the Newark family massacre are due to appear in court on Tuesday, next week.
"The court and investigating officers came to an agreement that the suspects will make their first appearance on Tuesday," said provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
Meanwhile, Premier Thami Ntuli is expected to visit the family home on Friday.
Ntuli will engage with the family and other stakeholders while also receiving updates from law enforcement authorities on progress in the ongoing investigation.
Seven family members were kidnapped on Tuesday night from their Newark home and found murdered in Melmoth.
The victims have been identified as Allen Monswamy, 52, his wife Sandy, 57, their children Kraidon, 26, and Shamaria, 20, and relatives Gonosagren Padayachee, 51, Mooniamma Padayachee, 78, and Mariama Happanah, 83.
KZN police, when the domestic helper arrived on Wednesday morning to work, she found the house ransacked, vehicles missing, and the family missing.
Newark police were summoned to the scene, and various police units were activated. One of the suspects worked for the family.
"Swift 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 that belongs to one of the kidnapped victims."
Police found the third suspect in Sundumbili in possession of a firearm.
Police said the suspects 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 driving to Melmoth, a distance of approximately 200km from the scene.
"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, aged 21, 26, and 28, face numerous charges of murder, kidnapping, robbery, and rape.
The Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi, has commended the police for the swift arrest of suspects.
He said police will leave no stone unturned in the quest for a maximum jail sentence for the suspects.
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