Four men who were suspected of being behind the mass killing of a family from Dumaneni in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday morning were shot dead by the police on Tuesday and Wednesday. The suspects had been on the run since the murders of members of the Mayise family.

Mandlenkosi Mayise (66), his wife Delisile Mayise (63)and their three daughters, Phemile Mayise (36), Bongathini Mayise (34) and Phindile Mayise (29), who were all teachers were shot and killed at their home allegedly by the suspects. It was alleged that three gunmen entered the deceased's house and opened fire at the family members. The four family members died on the scene and the fifth member died on the way to the hospital. Five counts of murder were opened for investigation. According to the police, members of the National Intervension Unit (NIU) managed to trace two suspects to Yanguye area, where they were shot and killed after a gun battle with police on Tuesday. SAPS KZN spokesperson Colonel Nqobile Gwala confirmed the incidents and said that the docket was transferred to the Provincial Organised Crime Unit for further investigation.

Gwala said that NIU acted on information regarding the hitmen involved in the Mayise murders. "The information led the team to a homestead at Encanyini, KwaYanguye in Melmoth. As police officers approached the homestead, two armed men emerged from a rondavel and opened fire at the police officers. The two suspects died om the scene following a shootout with the police officers. The deceased are believed to be in their 30s," said Gwala. Gwala said police recovered a revolver and a rifle plus 24 rounds of ammunition from the deceased suspects. "A search was conducted inside the rondavel and police found four cellphones and four rounds of shotgun ammunition. Further investigation and a search conducted at the crime scene resulted in police recovering a shotgun, homemade firearm, a pistol and parts of a revolver. The recovered firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing. The shooting incident was reported to IPID for investigation," she said. The other two suspects were also fatally shot during a shootout with NIU members in Mbhoshongweni also in Ulundi yesterday.