Man accused of killing three men with an axe and wounding a fourth after his daughter was gang-raped and infected with HIV

Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge said he was arrested at 1.30am yesterday.

"The body of the victim (one of the dead) was found in Lamontville and the head was found in Jacobs. This happened about a week ago," he said.

Mdunge said two other people were found hacked to death in Lamontville.

"A survivor of the alleged killing was found in Lamontville," said Mdunge.

The man (34) reportedly lunged at the his victim with an axe but the man managed to escape unharmed.

A task team was set up to investigate the murders after the men's hacked bodies were found over a period of just a week.

Mdunge said the task team received information about the suspect's whereabouts and followed up the tip-off.

"When they pounced on him they found an axe, which we believe is the murder weapon, clothes with blood stains and a hired car that we suspect he could have used during the alleged attacks," Mdunge said.

He said the police were still investigating whether the man acted alone.

"He is currently being detained in one of our police stations.

"We can't disclose where for security reasons.

"He will be charged formally with three counts of murder with aggravating circumstances and one of attempted murder," Mdunge said.

The man is expected to appear in the Durban magistrate's court on Friday.

Beeld reports that the suspect is a former Blue Bulls rugby player.

• Meanwhile, investigations continue into the murder of 21-year-old cricketer Juran Lorenzo Raman at a Pietermaritzburg nightclub.

The Cosmos Cricket Club member was stabbed on Sunday morning.

Witnesses are asked to contact Detective Warrant Officer Swami Pillay on 082-5561-380