Hazelmere, KwaZulu-Natal – A four-year-old girl was forced into a washing machine during a violent home invasion in Hazelmere in the early hours of Wednesday, after four suspects posing as police officers robbed her family home and tuck shop.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said the suspects arrived at the property during the night, allegedly impersonating South African Police Service (SAPS) officers.
“The suspects, who were dressed in civilian clothing, produced what appeared to be SAPS name tags and badges and accused the 29-year-old woman of drug dealing,” RUSA said in a statement. “The victim operates a grocery tuck shop next to her home.”
According to RUSA, one of the suspects was armed with a firearm, while another carried a knife, as the remaining men ransacked both the house and the shop.
During the robbery, one of the suspects allegedly subjected the four-year-old child to a terrifying ordeal.
Four-Year-Old Forced Into Washing Machine During Home Invasion: Hazelmere – KZNhttps://t.co/O5YbQDOMgK#ArriveAlive #Crime pic.twitter.com/iUrZJFQdRM
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 31, 2025
“One of the suspects placed the four-year-old female inside a washing machine and attempted to switch it on, but failed,” RUSA said.
The child’s mother, a Malawian national, told reaction officers that her three children — aged nine, four and three — were not physically injured during the incident.
“Fortunately, the children were not harmed, despite the extreme trauma they were exposed to,” RUSA said.
The suspects fled with approximately R200 in cash, an undisclosed amount of coins, a flashlight, a sack of cabbage, packs of Russian sausages, several cartons of cigarettes and the victim’s cellphone.
The woman was unable to immediately alert authorities because her phone was stolen during the robbery. Community members later assisted her, and RUSA was contacted later on Wednesday morning.
“The victim further informed our members that this was not the first incident,” RUSA said. “She reported that she was also robbed at the same premises on 26 December 2025.”
Police investigations are expected to follow, and residents in the area have been urged to remain vigilant and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be law enforcement officers.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
