Eight people, including six girls, were killed during an attack in Embangweni, KwaZulu-Natal, police said on Wednesday.
In the first attack, suspected to be a family feud, spokeswoman Captain Nqobile Gwala said neighbours heard gunshots at the home of the Sibiya family on Tuesday night.
“The community members went to check and found the house on fire. Attempts were made to rescue them, unfortunately the fire was uncontrollable. All five family members, a 60-year-old woman with four children aged between two and 16, died at the scene.”
In the second attack, at least 100 metres away from the first scene, gunshots were also heard at another Sibiya family house that was also set alight.
The community managed to rescue three children who had sustained burn wounds, said Gwala.
“Unfortunately, a 58-year-old woman died at the scene. She had sustained a gunshot wound and burn wounds. The children were taken to hospital where two of them succumbed to injuries.”
Police are investigating eight counts of murder and attempted murder. Gwala said the motive behind the attack was not yet unknown.
– African News Agency (ANA)
