Lusikisiki mass shooting: Arrest of 8th suspect delays start of trial
The group of men accused of killing 18 relatives in the Ngobozana village last year returned to Lusikisiki regional court on Monday.
Eight men accused in the Lusikisiki mass shooting appear in the Lusikisiki regional court on 17 February 2025. Picture: Nhlanhla Mabaso/Eyewitness News
DURBAN - The arrest of an eighth suspect in the Lusikisiki massacre case has led to more delays to the start of the trial.
The group of men accused of killing 18 relatives in the Ngobozana village last year returned to Lusikisiki regional court on Monday.
A way forward for the trial commencement was meant to be determined, however, proceedings focused on Songezo Vuma who was the outstanding accused in the matter.
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The 8 men accused of killing 18 relatives at Ngobazana village here in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape back in September 2024, returned to the Lusikisiki Regional Court today, they face 18 counts of murder, unlawful possession firearms and ammunition. @_NMabaso pic.twitter.com/8bTVtyXs8R
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 17, 2025
During the last proceedings in this mass murder case, the state said it was ready to prosecute the group of accused murderers.
However, this has now changed due to the arrest of accused 8, Vuma.
"Your worship the arrest of accused 8 has, for a lack of a better word thrown the spanner in the works. Now because there are now investigations that relate to him that needed to be conducted and concluded," said state prosecutor, Nkululeko Mathenjwa.
He said while some of the outstanding investigations are of a technical nature, they will be prioritised so the state can prosecute all of the accused at once.
The matter has been postponed to the 10 March.