The family of Thandiwe Chili, one of three Boxer employees killed during a disciplinary meeting in Eshowe, is calling for justice as police continue their search for the suspect.
The women were killed on Saturday, during a disciplinary meeting with the suspect, who allegedly opened fire on them.
The incident was captured on CCTV cameras.
In the video footage, two of the women are seen seated at their desks, while the third was standing and facing the suspect near the office door.
The suspect is then seen drawing a firearm and shooting the women multiple times.
After running out of ammunition, the suspect is seen reloading his firearm and then continues shooting.
It then appears that checks all the victims to see if they were still alive.
One of the victims was Thandiwe Chili, 54, is from eSikhaleni, near Empangeni.
Her brother, Khehla Chili, said the family was told that the suspect had allegedly reacted violently after he was told he had been fired.
“He just stood up and locked them inside the office where the meeting was taking place. It is reported that he left for a few minutes, returned with a gun, and shot all three of them,” Chili said.
He questioned the store’s security procedures, arguing that employees should be searched when entering the premises to prevent weapons from being brought inside.
“They only search them when they are leaving to check if they have stolen anything. When staff enter the store, management failed to search them to ensure they were not bringing weapons onto the premises,” he said.
Chili said the family was devastated by the deaths, adding that his sister had worked for Boxer for more than 20 years, including the past six years at the Eshowe branch.
He said her children and grandchildren depended on her financially.
“We want justice,” he said, calling for the suspect to be arrested and held accountable.
In a statement, Boxer said it was deeply saddened by the deaths of its three employees and had been supporting their families and loved ones since the tragedy.
The retailer said it was also providing care and support to affected colleagues and cooperating with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and relevant authorities in the ongoing investigation.
Boxer added that its teams across the country observed a moment of remembrance before starting their shifts to honour the victims.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that police were searching for the suspect.
“Reports indicate that the suspect had gone to the store to face a disciplinary hearing. Upon arrival, he immediately drew a firearm and shot three people, who died at the scene,” Netshiunda said.