The KwaZulu-Natal police are investigating a case of murder and arson after the bodies of five people were found inside a burnt house in Pietermaritzburg.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Mthokozisi Ngobese said police received a phone call about a house on fire at 10 Larch Road between 03:00 and 03:30 on Thursday morning.
The residence is situated between the Jika Joe informal settlement and the Brookside Mall.
"After we received a complaint of arson, we went to the house and when we arrived the house was still on fire. We called the fire department to assist with the fire," said Ngobese.
He said the Jaws of Life had to be used to break the gate and burglar bars on the front door.
"When we entered, we realised that there were bodies of five people inside. They had all succumbed to their burn injuries."
Ngobese identified the deceased as 46-year-old Aziz Manjra, his wife Amina Essop, also 46, their daughter Mehrunissa Manjra, 14, and their eight-year-old son, Rizwaan Manjra.
A family friend, Zaiboon Valley, 50, was also in the house when the incident happened.
"We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the matter. At this stage, there is evidence that a petrol bomb may have been thrown into the house."
Ngobese said the police were searching for the suspects and the motive of the attack was still unknown.
"We do not want to speculate anything at the moment, but we are not ruling out any possibilities," he said when asked if it could be family members involved in the incident.