Police in the Eastern Cape have launched an investigation after five members of the same family were found dead at their home in the Mfundisweni Administrative Area near Flagstaff in the OR Tambo District.
The bodies of an adult man, his wife and their three children were discovered on Thursday morning after a community member alerted authorities.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Nobuntu Gantana said all five victims had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
"Police reports indicate that the deceased sustained fatal gunshot wounds to their bodies. A pistol was found at the scene next to the body of the adult male occupant," Gantana said.
According to preliminary investigations, a friend of the family and a relative arrived at the homestead during the early hours of Thursday morning and discovered the bodies before notifying police.
Investigators are treating the incident as a suspected domestic homicide followed by suicide, although the exact circumstances and motive have not yet been established.
Police have confirmed that investigations are continuing.