A suspected drug-related shooting has claimed the lives of five young men in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal.
The group, in their 20s, were shot and killed while sitting inside an RDP house on Wednesday night.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said police received a report at 9.30pm about a shooting at Tambo Plaza area in Amaoti.
Multiple gunshot wounds
When police officers arrived at the scene, they found the bodies of the five men laying motionless inside the house.
“The deceased were found in the house with multiple gunshot wounds,” Naicker said.
“It was established that all five deceased, who are in their twenties, were in the house when they were shot by unknown suspects who arrived in a getaway vehicle.”
The sixth victim, who sustained a gunshot wound to his hand, was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Naicker said the shooting could be drug-related.
“From information gathered at the scene of the shooting incident, we cannot rule out the possibility that the motive is drug-related.
“The crime scene was processed by detectives from the provincial task team who investigate multiple murders. Investigations are continuing,” Naicker said.
The attack follows a fatal shooting of seven people in KwaMashu, a township 12km north of Durban on Tuesday morning.
Suspected vigilante hit
The deceased were cornered by unknown gunmen who opened fire at them under the bridge. It is suspected that the murders could have been a vigilante hit.
It has been reported that the deceased, who were believed to be in their 30s, were living under the bridge. They were suspected to have been involved in crime in the area.
According to reports, they were found on the crime scene with gunshot wounds to their heads. Police have since opened a murder docket for investigation.
Speaking on the shooting, Naicker said: “The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.
“The docket has been transferred to the provincial organised crime for investigation.”
Naicker said police officers found 18 9mm spent cartridges at the scene.
“It is possible that the incident is linked to vigilantism.”
