Two separate shootings in KwaZulu-Natal have left six people dead and one injured within hours of each other.

In KwaMsane, an off-duty police constable allegedly shot and killed three women at a liquor outlet before turning his service pistol on himself, while in Eshowe, a former employee allegedly opened fire during a disciplinary hearing at a grocery store, killing three people.

Police in KwaZulu-Natal are investigating three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and an inquest following an incident in which an off-duty police constable allegedly shot and killed three women and injured a man before turning the gun on himself in KwaMsane in the early hours of Saturday, 10 October.

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Police responded to reports of a shooting at a liquor outlet in the Nkodibe area of KwaMsane. On arrival, officers found four people dead from gunshot wounds and a fifth person injured. The injured person was taken to hospital.

Manhunt underway

It is reported that the off-duty police constable also disarmed another man during the incident. Both firearms were found at the scene. The cause of the shooting is unknown.

In a separate incident, police in Eshowe are tracing a suspect who allegedly shot and killed three people at a grocery chain store on Saturday.

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Reports indicate that the suspect, who is former employee of the store, had gone in for an internal disciplinary hearing. The suspect allegedly produced a firearm and shot three people who were declared dead at the scene.

A manhunt for the suspect is underway.