Child Sole Survivor Of Family Massacre In Protective Custody

Sowetan Live

The sole survivor of a gruesome family massacre is believed to be a child with Down syndrome, who is now in protective custody.

Eight members of one family were hacked to death at their homestead on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in a bloody massacre that took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Among the dead are three toddlers, and an elderly man.

While the motive for the attack remains unclear, police sources say a family feud may be at the centre of the brutal slaying which has rocked the community of Mabaleni.

Police were called to the scene the scene after a report that a family had been attacked.

The brevity of the call for help belied the gruesome scene they discovered, with the bodies of the dead lying strewn between two rondavels set against the hillside.

Hacked to death with sharp object

It is understood that the family members were hacked to death with a sharp object, most likely a panga or axe.

A baby as young as a year old was counted among the fatalities, and was cleaved to death by the attackers.

Police spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker said officers had descended on the scene and cordoned off the two rondavels.

“Our detectives were called out this morning along with forensic investigators and they have processed the scene. Our initial investigation led us to detain three men for questioning,” he said.

Naicker added that the case had been handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).

“With the multiple murders being connected it is within their mandate to investigate this case,” he said.

“We appeal to anyone with information relating to these killings to come forward and assist the police with their investigation.”