One suspect arrested for the Lusikisiki Massacre which saw 18 villagers dead

Provincial police spokesperson Lt Col Siphokazi Mawize confirmed early on Tuesday morning that one person has been arrested for the murder of 18 people in a village outside of Lusikisiki.

She said the suspect will appear in court today. More details will follow in the course of the day.

On Friday, 27 September, late at night, gunmen gained access to two houses in Ngobozana Village and gunned down 17 residents. An eighteenth victim later died in hospital. The motive for the attack is not known yet. During one of his visits to Lusikisiki Police, Minister Senzo Mchunu said the gunmen “took their time” and used different firearms to kill those that were in the two houses.

Fifteen women and three men died in the attack. Their names 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).

Also read in Daily Maverick: Lusikisiki Village hit by heinous Friday night mass shooting – 17 people gunned down

Also in Daily Maverick: ‘Everyone was home for ceremony’ – 18th victim dies in Lusikisiki mass shooting

Another person of interest, taken in for questioning last week, has also been released.

The Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, said at the government memorial service for the eighteen victims told the community that men were arrested but later said it was for “specific cases that will be clarified in court.”

But the three arrests were for other murders, robberies and gun crimes committed in the area, the Minister’s spokesperson, Kamogela Mogotsi, said.

On Monday, the national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, visiting the site of another mass shooting in Qumbu, explained that the three suspects were, however, persons of interest in the Lusikisiki murders. At that time he said the investigation was at a sensitive stage.

Also read in Daily Maverick: ‘Their silence is talking to us’ – police minister vows to bring Lusikisiki mass murderers to justice

On Sunday night, family spokesperson Nkosinathi Mhatu said they were very pleased to hear the reports of arrests.

“When the police minister was here, he assured us that 90% of the investigation had been completed, and they had the names of the suspects. So, when we heard today that there are three people who are in police custody, we were very pleased. The healing process usually becomes very difficult when something like this happens without any arrests, I can say our hearts are much better and less devastated when he said they have people behind bars. And those people are expected to appear in court tomorrow, we are very interested to see who those people are.” he said.

But their hopes were dashed on Monday.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tladi said the prosecution had not received any dockets relating to the murders of the eighteen. DM

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.