KwaZulu-Natal police have initiated a manhunt for four armed men following the brutal killing of four family members at their home near Mdweshule, close to Port Shepstone on the province’s south coast.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, December 31, 2025, when the suspects—armed with firearms and a bush knife—allegedly broke down the door of a rondavel where an eyewitness and her 45-year-old fiancé were staying.
According to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza, the suspects demanded money. When informed there was none, they opened fire on the fiancé, killing him on the spot.
“The suspects then instructed her to show them where the other members of the family were sleeping, which she did. When the suspects got to the main house, they shot dead a mother and two daughters, aged between 31 and 76,” Magwaza said.
The attackers fled the scene, taking only two cellphones. The surviving eyewitness was unharmed but deeply traumatised.
Police are investigating four counts of murder and house robbery. No arrests have been made as of January 1, 2026, and authorities are appealing for information from the public to assist in tracking down the perpetrators.
This attack comes amid ongoing concerns over violent crime in rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Anyone with information is urged to contact their nearest police station or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
Condolences to the affected family during this tragic time.