Police have launched a manhunt for a former employee accused of shooting and killing three women at a Boxer store in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday.
The three victims were reportedly managers at the store. They were declared dead at the scene after the suspect allegedly opened fire during an internal disciplinary hearing.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the suspect had gone to the store for the hearing before allegedly producing a firearm.
“The suspect, who is a former employee of the store, had gone to the store for his internal disciplinary hearing. The suspect allegedly produced a firearm and shot three people who were declared dead at the scene,” Netshiunda said.
The suspect has not been arrested and police are searching for him.
The shooting happened at the Boxer store in Eshowe on Saturday, 10 October. Police said the former employee fled after the attack.
A video recorded by security cameras at the store has circulated on social media. The footage appears to show the suspect inside an office as the three women attend the disciplinary meeting before the shooting begins.
The graphic footage has not been reproduced here. Police have not confirmed all details visible in the recording and the video will form part of the investigation.
The women were reportedly inside staff offices when they were attacked. Reports identified them as the bakery manager, store manager and administration manager, although police had not released their names at the time of the latest update.
One of the victims was identified by relatives as 54-year-old Thandiwe Chili. Her brother, Khehla Chili, said she had worked for Boxer for more than 20 years and had been based at the Eshowe store for about six years.
Chili said the family was told that the suspect had been called to a disciplinary hearing. According to the family’s account, the man was informed that he was facing disciplinary action before allegedly leaving the office and returning with a firearm.
“He came back with a gun and shot all three of them,” Chili said.
The family said the shooting happened at about 09:00. Relatives arrived at the store after being alerted by another Boxer employee and found that the three women had died.
Chili said the family wanted justice for his sister and the other victims.
The motive for the shooting has not been confirmed by police. An employee told the Mail & Guardian that the former worker had been angry about being dismissed after a disciplinary process and had complained about being denied leave and treated unfairly.
That account has not been confirmed by police and the employee’s claims about what led to the disciplinary hearing remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Police have not said whether the suspect was dismissed before the hearing or what specific allegations were being considered against him.
Boxer confirmed the deaths and said the three women were valued members of its staff.
“The Boxer family is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of three of our colleagues, whose lives were taken in a horrific act of violence at our Eshowe store on Saturday the 10th of October 2026,” the company said.
The retailer said it was working with the South African Police Service and other authorities to assist the investigation.
It also said it was supporting the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as employees who had been affected by the shooting.
“Today, Boxer teams across the country observed a moment of remembrance before beginning their shifts, standing together in honour of our fallen colleagues,” the company said.
“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of condolences, compassion and support from communities across South Africa. Your messages of kindness and solidarity have meant a great deal during this incredibly difficult time.”
Boxer said the women would not be forgotten.
“They will not be forgotten,” the company said.
The shooting has raised questions about how the suspect entered the store with a firearm, although police have not announced any findings about the store’s security procedures.
Chili alleged that employees were searched when leaving the store to prevent theft but not when arriving for work. He said a search on entry could have detected the firearm.
“If they searched him when he came in, they would have seen he was armed,” he said.
The allegation has not been independently confirmed, and Boxer has not publicly announced any change to its security procedures in response to the shooting.
Police have appealed to anyone with information about the suspect’s whereabouts to contact the Eshowe police station on 035 473 4211 or 082 557 6033. Information can also be provided to Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Netshiunda said the investigation was continuing and that police were tracing the former employee.
The suspect’s identity has not been released. Police have also not confirmed whether the firearm used in the shooting has been recovered.
The three deaths formed part of a weekend of fatal shootings in KwaZulu-Natal. In a separate incident at KwaMsane, an off-duty police constable allegedly shot and killed three women and injured a man before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police reporting.
The two incidents were separate and no link between them has been reported. Police were investigating the Eshowe shooting as a triple murder and continuing the manhunt for the former Boxer employee.
The Eshowe victims’ families and colleagues are mourning while investigators work to establish what happened before and during the disciplinary hearing.
The suspect remains at large. Any criminal charges will depend on his arrest and the outcome of the police investigation.