The police have made a major breakthrough in the investigation of the Lusikisiki mass shooting, arresting two additional suspects and recovering high-calibre military-grade assault rifles that are believed to have been used in the massacre.
Story Summary:
- Eastern Cape police arrested two additional suspects and recovered military-grade assault rifles believed to have been used in the Lusikisiki mass shooting, which resulted in 18 deaths.
- These developments come as ballistics tests are conducted to confirm the weapons’ use in the crime.
- Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that the killings were allegedly ordered from inside a prison by the mastermind behind the attack
Lusikisiki mass shooting latest news: Two more suspects arrested
These rifles were seized in Flagstaff, Eastern Cape, during an operation on Thursday evening.
The firearms are now undergoing ballistics tests to confirm if they were used in the brutal killing of 18 people at two homesteads in Ngobozana village.
The suspects arrested in connection with these rifles are believed to have moved the weapons to another location following the massacre.
The pair is currently in custody and will assist in the ongoing investigation, which has already resulted in the arrest of four other suspects earlier this week.
‘Mastermind behind massacre is behind bars’ – Police minister
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, speaking to the media earlier this week, revealed that the mastermind behind this mass shooting orchestrated the attack from inside a prison.
The mastermind, allegedly directing the killings while incarcerated, is believed to have ordered the execution of the victims from behind bars.
Mchunu expressed grave concerns over how inmates could plan and direct such heinous crimes while under the state’s supervision.
This disturbing revelation adds to the growing concerns about South Africa’s parole system, especially since one of the key suspects in the Lusikisiki case is reportedly a parolee.
The police minister indicated that discussions are underway with the Department of Correctional Services to address these alarming issues and ensure stricter oversight of inmates’ activities, particularly those with connections to violent crime networks.
The horrific shooting occurred on the night of 27 September 2024, when gunmen stormed two neighbouring homesteads in Ngobozana village, Lusikisiki.
The attackers killed 12 women and one man in one homestead, while three women and one man were slain in the second.
A two-month-old baby miraculously survived the attack.
The motive behind the attack is still being investigated, but early reports suggest that gang-related violence may have played a significant role.