Suspected hitman in Lusikisiki mass shooting was released 21 years after receiving life imprisonment

The man accused of the murder of 18 Lusikisiki family members was released on parole on 2 May 2023 after serving just more than 21 years of a life sentence.

Siphosoxolo Myekethe (45) was sentenced to life imprisonment on 27 February 2002 for murder, armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm. He also has a conviction for escaping from custody. 

On 2 May 2023 he was released from the Mthatha prison, which is 127km from his home village in Lusikisiki.

In 2011, the Pretoria High Court ruled that prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment before 1 October 2024 would have their date for parole brought forward as they could benefit from credits earned under the Correctional Services Act.

They became eligible for consideration for parole after serving 13 years and four months instead of 20 years. That became 12 years four months due to 2005 and 2012 remissions granted by the President. However, delays in processing parole applications meant that some were only released later.

Last month, Judge Letty Molopa-Sethosa, chairperson of the National Council for Correctional Services, said 4,300 offenders benefited from the 2011 judgment. As of September 2024, another 304 prisoners who were serving life sentences were to be released or considered for release in terms of this ruling. 

Myekethe appeared in the Lusikisiki Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and has indicated that he wishes to apply for bail. His case was remanded to 15 October 2024 for further criminal profiling, a report from Correctional Services regarding his parole status, and a possible bail application.

Read more: Suspect charged over Lusikisiki Massacre was on parole for murder and escaping from custody

The national spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services, Singabakho Nxumalo, said Myekethe was monitored according to his parole conditions. These conditions included home visits, and he would also visit the Community Corrections Office.

Late on the night of Friday, 27 September there was a mass shooting at two houses in Ngobozana Village, Lusikisiki. Almost an entire extended family was wiped out as they were home for a traditional ceremony to mark the end of the mourning period for two other family members who had been gunned down the year before.

Read more:  ‘Their silence is talking to us’ – police minister vows to bring Lusikisiki mass murderers to justice

Fifteen women and three men died in the attack. They are:

Thobile Sinqina (37), ⁠Nonkanyiso Dukuza (19), Ruth King (21), ⁠Mandisa Dlokweni (59), ⁠Samantha Sinqina (26), ⁠Lungiswa Gawulekana (51), ⁠Thandeka Mhlaluvele (46), Mary Sinqina (63), Nombuliso Dukuza (32), Mathembisile Mayekiso-Sinqina (64), ⁠Nobelungu France (59), Themi Vimba (41), Nomazwi Ndleleni (59), Smomoza Sinqina (14), ⁠Nancy Sinqina (59), ⁠Dimpho Sinqina (30), Thali King Sinqina (26) and Sigobodo Gxobela (59).

Family spokesperson Nkosinathi Mhatu said they are encouraged by news of the suspect’s arrest on Tuesday.

“We were told that this one is directly involved in the incident, unlike those three suspects who were arrested for unrelated matters and were still being investigated if they are involved,” Mhatu said.

“It is unfortunate that neither of us got the chance to see the suspect, as he made a very brief appearance, and we did not hear anything about his next court appearance. We’ll also rely on the media to inform us of the next court date. But we welcome the progress that law enforcement has made so far.

“Now all we wish is for the suspect to speak the honest truth, to tell who did this and why? And let the law take its course.

“If that all could happen, I think we can then be able to start healing. Even though it’s going to take time, it will be better when justice has been served.” DM