Three Boxer managers killed at Eshowe disciplinary hearing
ESHOWE — Police are searching for a former Boxer employee who allegedly shot and killed three women during an internal disciplinary hearing at the retailer’s Eshowe store on Saturday, 10 October. The victims reportedly held management positions, and all three were declared dead at the scene.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that the suspect had gone to the store for a disciplinary hearing before allegedly producing a firearm and shooting three people. The latest reports reviewed on Wednesday indicated that the manhunt was continuing. Police had not publicly named the suspect.
The women were reportedly the store, bakery and administration managers. One victim has been identified by her family as Thandiwe Chili, 54, from eSikhaleni near Empangeni. TownPress has not independently confirmed the full identities of the other two women and is withholding the first names circulating on social media pending verification.
Chili’s brother, Khehla, told Isolezwe that his sister had worked for Boxer for more than 20 years, including six years at the Eshowe branch. He said she supported children, relatives and grandchildren, leaving the family facing both a personal loss and the loss of someone on whom they depended.
The family’s account alleges that the gunman locked the women inside an office before returning with a firearm. That sequence has not been independently established by TownPress. Police have confirmed the disciplinary-hearing connection, but the precise circumstances leading to the shooting remain under investigation.
CCTV footage of the attack has been reported by several publications. Its existence adds to the material potentially available to investigators, although police have not publicly detailed what evidence they have recovered or how it is being used to trace the suspect.
Boxer said it was deeply saddened by the deaths and was supporting the victims’ families and affected colleagues. The retailer also said it was cooperating with police and the relevant authorities. Teams at its stores across the country observed a moment of remembrance before beginning their shifts on Tuesday.
The killings have prompted concerns from Chili’s family about security at the premises. Her brother questioned whether staff were searched for weapons when entering the store, alleging that searches focused on employees leaving. These are the family’s concerns; no finding on the adequacy of the store’s security arrangements has been announced.
The reports reviewed did not include a detailed Boxer response to those specific allegations. They also did not establish how the firearm entered the premises, whether the suspect had previously made threats or what security measures were in place for the hearing.
Although social media accounts describe the suspect as a dismissed employee, the confirmed police account identifies him as a former employee attending disciplinary proceedings. The exact employment decision, its timing and any alleged motive should remain subject to the investigation.
Police have appealed for information that could help locate the suspect. Anyone with relevant information can contact Eshowe police on 035 473 4211 or 082 557 6033, or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
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