Police are still hunting for a man who shot and killed three women, his managers, at a Boxer grocery store in eShowe, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the man, a former employee, had gone to the store for a disciplinary hearing.
“The suspect produced a firearm and shot three people who were declared dead at the scene. A manhunt for the suspect is underway,” he said.
It was reported that the man had worked in the store’s bakery. The victims were reportedly the bakery, store, and administration managers, who were allegedly shot inside the offices. Police have not identified the man.
Victims locked in office
One of the victims has been identified as Thandiwe Chili, 54, originally from eSikhaleni in Empangeni. Her brother, Khehla Chili, told Isolezwe that the shooter had been called to a disciplinary hearing. According to the family, when the three managers informed him that he was being charged, he stood up, locked them inside the office where the meeting was being held, left for a few minutes, and returned with a firearm.
"He came back with a gun and shot all three of them," said Chili.
He said the incident happened at around 9am and all three women were found dead at the scene. A relative who also works in Eshowe was informed by another Boxer employee. The family went to the scene at around 1pm.
Staff should be searched
Chili raised concerns about security procedures at the store, alleging that staff are only searched when leaving the store to check for stolen goods, but not when reporting for duty.
"All they do is search them when they go home to check if they didn't steal anything. If they searched them when they came in, they would have seen he was armed," he said.
He said his sister had worked for Boxer for over 20 years and had been at the Eshowe store for six years. She was supporting her own children, some of whom are at university, as well as relatives and grandchildren.
"We want justice. Even if he was upset about the disciplinary decision, he could have found work elsewhere, but he chose to do something that will lead him to prison," he said
