Photo by Salvatore Laporta/KONTROLAB /LightRocket via Getty Images
ESHOWE - Employment and Labour Minister Makhosazana Meth has appealed to the public to stop sharing CCTV footage of the killing of three female managers at a Boxer supermarket in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, urging people to show empathy towards the victims’ grieving families.
The murders took place on 10 October, reportedly following a disciplinary process.
The footage circulating on social media shows a man dressed in black standing at the doorway of an office where the three managers were seated.
He then opens fire repeatedly, with all three women shot. The footage shows them attempting to take cover as the gunman continues firing.
READ: ‘They will not be forgotten’ - Boxer reacts to 3 employees gunned down at Eshowe.
In a statement, Boxer said it had extended its condolences to the families of the victims and was working with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other authorities as the investigation continued.
Meth has called on law enforcement to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
“No person should ever fear for their life or personal safety while carrying out their duties and responsibilities in the workplace,” she said.
The killings have sparked widespread reactions on social media. While many users have expressed horror and condemned the attack, others have voiced sympathy for the alleged gunman, claiming he may have worked in a toxic environment.
READ: Discount retailer Boxer announces profits and a new CEO
Some comments have been criticised for appearing to justify the killings.
“We cannot speculate,” said University of Johannesburg academic Professor Corne Buitendag, who focuses on gender-based violence and gender equality.
Buitendag said South Africans should not normalise violence or shift blame for the killings.
While crime, including violence against women, remains a serious concern, she warned against becoming desensitised to violent incidents, whether they receive widespread media coverage or not.
She also cautioned against arguments that frame the incident as three women against one man, saying such narratives can reinforce a sense of entitlement among some men.
“Even if you are disgruntled, you cannot kill,” Buitendag said.
She added that social media comments around the murders that excuse or justify the violence should be condemned.