Australian friends of Martin and Teresa van Breda have expresed shock on social media following reports of the couple's murder in South Africa.
Martin van Breda, 55, his wife Theresa, 54, and son Rudi, 22, were found dead at their home at an exclusive golf resort in Stellenbosch, about 50km east of Cape Town, on Wednesday.
Their daughter Marli, 16, was in a critical condition, while another son, Henri, 20, was slightly injured.
South African media have reported the victims were killed with an axe.
"What I can say is they were not shot,” emergency medical services spokesman Robert Daniels said. “The patients were axed. The daughter was rushed to hospital with severe head trauma and a severed jugular."
"The other son had minor bruises on his arms. He was treated at the scene."
South Africa Police Force Spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana said police were investigating the circumstances around the deaths.
"We would not want to speculate on the motive for the killing and we indicated, as also yesterday, that we have not made any arrest at this stage. We have not even taken in anybody for questioning," he said.
The family was originally from South Africa but spent several years in Perth where they became part of the large ex-pat community.
Some friends today shared their grief on social media.
One said their group would never be the same, another called the pair an anchor in Australia.
Friends of 22-year-old Rudi posted messages of grief to his Facebook page.
"I am going to miss you my good friend," one post read. "I wished we would not part this way but I guess I don't really have a choice. I will always love you."
- With AAP
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