Johnnesburg - A KwaZulu-Natal family was shot and hacked to death, among them a pregnant woman, in a gruesome murder for which the motive is unclear as yet, police said on Friday.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said crime took place at Zululiyaduma area in Melmoth, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, in the early hours of Thursday.
Gwala said a 49-year-old mother, her 23-year-old son, and pregnant 27-year-old daughter were hacked with a bush knife and shot.
One of the family members, a 30-year-old woman, survived the attack and was taken to hospital where she was reported to be in a critical condition.
“It is alleged that four suspects armed with bush knives and a firearm entered the house while the victims were asleep,” Gwala said.
“They opened fire and hacked them to death. Among those killed was a 27-year-old woman who was pregnant. The suspects fled the scene in an unknown direction.”
Gwala said initial investigations conducted at the scene established that the killers took money and airtime vouchers.
“The motive for this tragic killing is unknown at this stage. Three counts of murder, attempted murder and house robbery are being investigated by Melmoth SAPS,” Gwala said.
African News Agency