Lusikisiki – The case against eight men charged with the murder of 18 people in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, has been remanded to 10 March 2025.
The trial was initially scheduled to commence today, Monday, (17 February 2025), in the Lusikisiki Regional Court.
Allegations are that late in September last year, 2024, two homesteads on the same street in the town of Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape, were targeted by gunmen.
The violent attack left 12 women and a man dead in one location. Three women and another man perished at a second location.
The 18th victim died in hospital
Commenting on the matter on Monday, (17 February 2025), National Prosecuting Authority Eastern Cape Spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said adding the eighth accused 20-year-old Songezo Vuma to the matter necessitated further investigations.
Vuma was added to the matter last month, January.
“The Eastern Cape Judge President has also made available a judge to preside over the case,” Tyali said.
“The case will be transferred to the Mthatha High Court, which will sit in Lusikisiki as a Circuit Court.”
Vuma made his first appearance on 7 January 2025, after being apprehended on a bus, en route to Cape Town on 5 January 2025.
Vuma has since abandoned his bail, and the matter was transferred to the Lusikisiki Regional Court, where he joined seven other accused.
Vuma joined 45-year-old Siphosoxolo Myekethe, 25-year-old Aphiwe “AP” Ndende, 33-year-old Lwando Antony Abi, 31-year-old Bonga Hintsa, 38-year-old Zenande Paya and 36-year-old Mawethu Nomdlembu, who have all since abandoned bail.
They are facing 18 charges of murder and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Paya and Nomdlwembu, were arrested in Flagstaff, on 17 October 2024, in possession of the four rifles and ammunition.
The guns and bullets were allegedly moved to other locations, after the massacre on 28 September 2024, in Ngobozana village.
Two of the men, Ndende and Hintsa, were arrested in Port Shep stone, while Abi was apprehended in East London, on 16 October 2024.
Myekethe was arrested on 7 October 2024, at his home in Mthimde Location, Mamfengwini Area in the district of Lusikisiki.
“Their arrest came after the shooting that occurred on 28 September 2024, at two neighbouring homesteads in Ngobozana Village near the town of Lusikisiki, where eighteen people were killed,” Tyali said.
