Imbali shooting: Father of victims 'shot dead last year'
A friend of the Pietermaritzburg family whose members were gunned down on Friday says the mass murder comes just months after the family patriarch was killed.
Ten members of the Memela were shot execution-style in the early hours of this morning in their Unit 14 home in Imbali.
The youngest victim was 13 years old.
"Mrs Memela, who is the head of this home and her daughter Brenda, and her three children were killed and then there was her son who was killed with his girlfriend," said family friend Siyabonga Mndebele.
Visibly emotional family, friends and neighbours gathered outside the Unit 14 home, shocked by what had happened.
READ: [WATCH] Imbali killings: One suspect dead, two arrested during 'cleansing'
Mndebele says the attack has left them feeling like the area is not safe.
"It is very bad. Things that are happening around here in Imbali are terrible. Last year the elder of the house, Mr Memela was shot in November, so we are not sure if what happened last year is connected to what happened today."
Police later received information about the alleged gunmen and made their way to a nearby home, where a shootout ensued.
One suspect was killed, another one wounded and two arrested.
Police say they are working to link them to the murders.
