- Linda Mathiyane (28), Bongumenzi Mapungose (26), and Mathandeni Mathiyane (21) made their first court appearances
- The three men were arrested for the kidnapping and brutal murder of seven members of the Monswamy family.
- Members of political parties and angry citizens protested outside the courtroom ahead of the men's appearance.
Source: Twitter
Byron Pillay, A news in brief Journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political scene, crime and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
KwaZulu-Natal – Three people were arrested on kidnapping charges The brutal murder of a Newark family Appeared in court for the first time.
The three suspects, Linda Blessing Mathiyane (28), Bongumenzi Mapungose (26), and Mathandeni Luyanda Mathiyane (21), made their first appearance at the KwaDukuza Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, where they had their bail applications rejected. The trio were arrested on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, a day after the brutal murders. was one of the suspects Traced through a cellphone Men stole.
Seven members of the Monswamy family were held against their will at their home in Newark, robbed, and then taken over two hours to Melmoth, where they were murdered. One victim was also raped.
Suspects appear in court
On Tuesday, the suspects were produced in court, where they lowered their heads to avoid being photographed by the media. The suspects are 21, 26 and 28 years old respectively.
He faces 17 charges including kidnapping, robbery and premeditated murder. One of the suspects is also accused of rape, while the other is accused of possessing a gun without a license. They will appear again on 23 June 2026.
Police are still searching for another suspect, who is absconding. Some of the suspects are reportedly known to the family.
KZN Premier wanted to oppose bail
During the funeral of seven family members, KZN Premier Thami Ntuli praised the police's prompt action and promised that all available resources were being deployed to capture the remaining man.
“We will not rest until all those responsible are brought to justice,” he said.
He also said that the Department of Community Safety had contacted the legal team to ensure that the suspects' bail was opposed. When these people appeared, the Prime Minister was also in the court.
Protests were held outside the court
Hundreds of people gathered outside the KwaDukuza Magistrate's Court ahead of the suspects' first appearance, demanding that they be denied bail. Several political parties were present in full force outside the court, as were activists against gender-based violence (GBV).
Source: Twitter
Other stories of murder of multiple family members
news in brief Over the years many horrific stories have been reported where more than one member of a family has been murdered.
Source: News in Brief