Charges Dropped Against Two Lusikisiki Mass Shooting Suspects

Case Update and Court Proceedings
Two suspects linked to the Lusikisiki massacre in the Eastern Cape have had their charges withdrawn, while the case has been officially transferred to a higher court. The Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court saw eight accused individuals appear on Monday following a prior postponement in February to finalize investigations.

The accused included Mzukisi Ndamase, Siphosoxolo Myekethe, Aphiwe “AP” Ndende, Bonga Hintsa, Mawethu Nomdlembu, Songezo Vuma, Lwando Abi, and Zenande Paya. They faced multiple serious charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, 18 counts of murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, and illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.

However, the state announced that charges against Abi and Paya had been dropped. With no pending cases, they are no longer part of the trial.

Case Transferred to High Court
Following the withdrawal of charges, the case has been transferred to the Eastern Cape High Court in Mthatha, where proceedings will take place at the Lusikisiki circuit court. The remaining six accused remained in custody after choosing not to apply for bail.

According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Eastern Cape spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, the decision to withdraw charges was based on the available evidence.

“This does not mean the others will walk free. Our goal is to ensure justice is served. Cases are enrolled based on the strength of the evidence in the docket. The evidence against these two was insufficient to proceed,” Tyali told Newzroom Afrika.

Additional Charges Against the Remaining Accused
The six remaining suspects have now been served with their indictment, which includes an additional murder charge related to the assassination of ANC politician Mncedi Gijana. Gijana was shot and killed outside his home in KwaBhaca on August 19, 2024.

“There is also a charge of kidnapping because, during the incident, the deceased’s children were forcibly taken and kept in a separate room against their will,” Tyali added.

The Lusikisiki Massacre
The case stems from a mass shooting on September 28, 2024, in Ngobozana Village, near Lusikisiki, where 18 family members were killed at two neighboring homesteads.

Authorities believe that Mzukisi Ndamase, a 46-year-old convicted murderer, orchestrated the crime while serving a life sentence at the eBongweni Super-Maximum Correctional Centre in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal. Despite the gravity of the charges, Ndamase has chosen to represent himself in court.

The case continues to draw national attention as the trial moves forward in the high court.