A Monswamy family mass funeral will be held on Sunday at the Stanger High School sports ground in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, after seven relatives were abducted from their Newark home and killed near Melmoth this week. The service runs from 9am to noon before proceeding to the Stanger crematorium at 13.30.
The seven victims are Alan Monswamy, 52, his wife Sandy, 57, their children Kraidon, 26, and Shamaria, 20, Sandy’s mother Mooniamma Padayachee, 78, brother Gonasagren Padayachee, 51, and aunt Mariamma Appanah, 83.
How the family was killed
The seven were abducted in the early hours of Tuesday, 21 April 2026, from their Newark home near KwaDukuza.
They were bound, loaded into Monswamy’s bakkie and driven roughly 200km to Melmoth, where they were killed. Some victims were shot. Others were stabbed.
The men allegedly forced victims to disclose banking details and made several transfers from their accounts on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
What the Monswamy family is saying
Sandy Monswamy’s brother-in-law, Kesaven Pillay, said the family was preparing for the funeral while still processing the loss.
He told TimesLIVE the family had gathered only days earlier to celebrate son Kraidon’s engagement to his fiancee Melissa.
“Last weekend we were all together, and everyone was so happy for Kraidon and his fiancee Melissa. It was a celebration at her house, and we were all there to celebrate and mark the beginning of their life together. Now to think a few days later they suffered the way they did, it’s unbelievable,” said Pillay.
“At least we have the memories of the engagement party and how happy they were to carry with us in our hearts instead of thinking of what they went through in the end,” he said.
The investigation and outstanding suspect
Three suspects, aged 21, 26 and 28, were arrested in the Hlomendlini and Sundumbili areas on Wednesday.
Police recovered a bakkie and 11 cellphones belonging to the victims. KwaZulu-Natal premier Thami Ntuli has confirmed police are hunting a fourth man wanted in connection with the killings.
The accused were due to appear in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Friday but the matter was postponed by arrangement between the National Prosecuting Authority and the South African Police Service to next week.
