Police Probe Family Feuds And Soured Business Deals As Possible Motive For Highflats Massacre

Police in KwaZulu-Natal believe Wednesdays mass shooting of seven people from the Khambule family could be linked to ongoing family squabbles and tender-related business deals. IOL earlier reported that three children, under the age of 13, were among the deceased.

Speaking to the media at the scene in Highflats, just outside Pietermaritzburg, provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said the family was seated in the lounge when the gunmen entered the homestead.

According to information that we received, there were a total of 25 bullets used. There were 18 spent cartridges and seven bullet heads found at the crime scene. As police, we are convinced that this was an execution. It was planned, Mkhwanazi said.

Mkhwanazi has deployed a provincial team to spearhead the investigations and a search for suspects.

Police have also clarified the ages of the deceased three women aged 35, 38 and 55 years old, and a 48-year-old man as well as three children aged 5, 11 and 12.