An elderly Eastern Cape woman and her two young grandchildren who police initially thought had died in a fire, were actually beaten to death before the house was set alight.
Police spokesperson, Captain Jackson Manatha, says this came to light when a fourth victim of this week's brutal attack told police of how she survived the ordeal but had been abducted and raped elsewhere by the assailant.
He says 70-year-old Nothamalazi Hongwana and her granchildren, nine-year-old Ayisha Rwane and 11-year-old Ayabulela Xhongwana, died in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The attack took place at Matolweni Locality, Nqadu Village in Willowvale..
Manatha says it's alleged that an assailant had broken into the house and attacked the woman and children.
The hunt for the killer is still continuing.
Police are now investigating cases of murder, rape and arson.
