A 33-year-old former Boxer Superstore employee is being hunted by police after allegedly shooting and killing three female managers at the retailer’s eShowe branch in northern KwaZulu-Natal following a disciplinary hearing that reportedly ended in his dismissal.

The suspect, who had worked in the store’s bakery for a considerable period, allegedly opened fire on Saturday after attending an internal disciplinary hearing at which he was informed of the outcome of proceedings against him.

The victims were reportedly the store manager, bakery manager and administration manager, who were allegedly shot inside the supermarket’s offices.

The killings have left employees traumatised, with some expressing concern about returning to work after the deadly incident.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that police were tracing the suspect in connection with the triple murder.

“Police in eShowe are tracing a suspect who shot and killed three people at a grocery chain store on Saturday,” Netshiunda said.

“Reports indicate that the suspect is a former employee who had gone to the store for his internal hearing.”

According to employees who spoke anonymously, the disciplinary proceedings related to leave days. The former employee had reportedly been scheduled to receive the outcome of the hearing on Saturday morning.

The meeting allegedly began at about 10 am and involved the store manager, bakery manager and administration manager.

Employees said the man was informed that his employment had been terminated. He allegedly asked to speak to some of the managers after the hearing before producing a firearm and opening fire.

The precise circumstances surrounding the shooting, including what happened immediately before the gunfire, remain subject to police investigation.

Social Media Post Details Alleged Remark

A social media user on X who claimed to be close to the matter also shared an account of the incident, alleging that the former employee opened fire after being dismissed.

The user claimed the suspect allegedly made a remark after the killings, writing: “kanti bekumele kulambe izingane zikabani?”

The isiZulu phrase can be translated as, “So whose children were supposed to go hungry?”

The remark has not been independently verified, and police have not publicly confirmed whether the suspect made such a statement.

The X user also identified the three women in circulating reports as Thembeka, the store manager; Lulama, the bakery manager; and Thandiwe, the administration manager.

Their identities had not been independently confirmed by police at the time of publication. Their families had also not publicly commented on the killings.

The alleged remark has added another disturbing dimension to the incident, which reportedly unfolded after an employment dispute.

Workers Return to the Store

The shooting has left employees struggling to come to terms with the deaths of their colleagues.

On Monday, workers who spoke anonymously described the suspect as a long-serving bakery employee who had been trusted within the store.

The employees said the incident had traumatised staff members, some of whom were dissatisfied that the supermarket was operating as usual on Monday, just two days after the killings.

The South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), which represents many workers in the retail sector, was reportedly under the impression that the store would close for several weeks following the shooting.

However, the supermarket was open when the area was visited on Monday, with employees reporting for duty.

Workers raised concerns about the emotional impact of returning to a workplace where three managers had allegedly been shot dead.

It was not immediately clear what counselling or other support services had been made available to employees affected by the incident.

The union’s full response to the shooting and the decision to continue operating had yet to be established.

The incident has also raised questions about workplace safety and the support provided to employees following a violent incident.

Police Manhunt Underway

Police have opened a triple murder investigation and are searching for the suspect, who allegedly fled the supermarket after the shooting.

Authorities are expected to establish the sequence of events leading up to the killings, including the circumstances surrounding the disciplinary hearing and how the firearm was brought into the premises.

Anyone with information that could assist investigators in locating the suspect is urged to contact their nearest police station or provide information to the SAPS.

The eShowe killings occurred on the same day as a separate shooting in KwaMsane, where an off-duty police constable allegedly shot and killed three women and wounded a man at a tavern before turning the firearm on himself.

The two incidents are being treated as separate cases.

The eShowe suspect had not been arrested at the time of publication, and police had not announced further details about his whereabouts.

As the manhunt continues, employees are left mourning three colleagues while trying to process a shooting that allegedly followed an internal workplace disciplinary hearing.