[UPDATE] ‘One victim had his arm chopped off’: 12 arrested for allegedly hacking 5 men to death with bush knife in Inanda

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police have arrested twelve suspects in connection with the murders of five people who were butchered to death with a bush knife at two sports fields at Bambayi, in Inanda, on Friday morning.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the suspects are still being processed.

“Their details, as well as their first court appearance, will be known in due course. The suspects are believed to be members of a certain forum in the community, and more arrests cannot be ruled out.”

Bodies found

Netshiunda said officers responded to reports of the multiple murders on Friday morning.

“Upon arrival at the crime scenes, three bodies were found at a sports ground near a school. The other two bodies were discovered in another field, about a kilometre away from the first crime scene.

“Information at police’s disposal at this stage suggests that the victims, aged between 19 and 26 years old, were allegedly kidnapped from their homes in Bambayi around midnight and their bodies were only discovered just after 6h30 in the morning with multiple injuries. One victim had his one arm chopped off,” Netshiunda said.

Netshiunda added that the motive of the killings is unknown at this stage.

ALSO READ: KZN police arrest alleged hitman for murder of police officer

Police commander killed

Meanwhile, Mpumalanga police confirmed that five suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 59-year-old police officer who was shot dead in an apparent hit in the province.

The acting provincial police commissioner in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi welcomed the arrests.

KZN police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said the five suspects were handcuffed on Friday.

“The suspects, aged between 29 and 40, are believed to be linked to the killing of an on-duty police officer, Lieutenant Colonel Piet Pretorius, on Thursday in Ermelo in less than 24 hours.

“The acting provincial commissioner will today [17 January 2025] visit the bereaved family of the late, Lt Col Pretorius. A vehicle believed to have been used in the commission of the crime has also been found torched this morning next to Extension 7 in Ermelo,” Ndubane said.

Shooting incident

Pretorius, commander of the Vehicle Identification Unit in Ermelo, was reportedly on his way to see an informant when an armed suspect accosted him.

Ndubane said they are investigating the motive of the alleged hit.

“Circumstances surrounding this incident are still sketchy at this stage, and more details will be shared at a later stage. However, it is reported that Lieutenant Colonel Pretorius was driving in an official vehicle when he was shot. The vehicle was riddled with bullet holes.

“After the shooting, the assailant allegedly got into a white sedan and fled the scene.”

Ndubane said a team of experts in the investigation field has been assembled to probe the incident with the hope of arresting anyone behind the murder.

NOW READ: Hawks make major breakthrough in matric results ‘breach’ – One detained