Lusikisiki mass shooting: 6 arrested so far

Two additional individuals allegedly connected to the mass shooting in Lusikisiki, which resulted in 18 fatalities, made a brief court appearance on Monday.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), a total of six people have now been arrested in relation to the mass murder that occurred on the evening of September 28, 2024.

Aphiwe “AP” Ndende, Lwando Antony Abi, and Bonga Hintsa.

Among the victims were 15 women and three men, with five others sustaining injuries.

The motive behind the murders remains unknown.

Regarding the two men’s court appearance, Eastern Cape NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali stated they appeared in the Flagstaff Regional Court.

Zenande Paya, 38, and Mawethu Nomdlembu, 36, face four counts of unlawful possession of firearms, including three AK47 assault rifles and a 243 Steyr Mannlicher rifle.

They were also found in unlawful possession of 82 live rounds of ammunition.

“They appeared briefly in court today (Monday) and their case has been remanded to Thursday, where they will be formally joined by the four men charged with the murder of 18 people,” Tyali added.

The other four men have chosen to abandon their bail applications.

On Friday, Aphiwe “AP” Ndende, 25, Lwando Antony Abi, 33, and Bonga Hintsa, 32, also decided to forgo their bail applications.

The trio was apprehended in KwaZulu-Natal less than 24 hours after police released their photographs, being caught in Port Shepstone on the KZN South Coast.

Murder parolee Siphosoxolo Myekethe, who is also accused of the Lusikisiki murders, has likewise opted to abandon his bail application.

Myekethe is currently out on murder charges and has escaped from lawful custody.

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