Cabinet has condemned the recent Eastern Cape mass shootings involving 18 family members and six community patrollers.
“Cabinet has welcomed the swift deployment of a team of specialist law enforcement officers to investigate these shooting incidents, whose work is already bearing fruits, with one suspect directly linked to the murder of 18 people in Lusikisiki having already appeared in court,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
This comes as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said a man arrested in connection with the murder of the 18 people was out on parole for murder when the massacre took place.
The man made a first appearance in the Lusikisiki Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday in connection with the massacre, which left five others injured.
“Siphosoxolo Myekethe is facing 18 charges of murder and one count of possession of an unlicensed firearm - an AK47 assault rifle. During his brief appearance in court, the accused elected to be represented by a Legal Aid attorney and expressed his intention to exercise his right to apply for bail.
“The prosecution will be opposing bail against the alleged murderer, who has two previous convictions for escaping from legal custody and murder. He is currently out on parole for murder,” NPA regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said in a statement.
Myekethe is expected back in court on 15 October.
READ | Lusikisiki massacre suspect was on parole: NPA
Earlier this week, the SAPS said investigations into the killing of the 18 were at “an advanced but sensitive stage in relation to the arrest of the suspects linked to the gruesome murder”.
On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed deep sorrow following the killing of six community patrollers in Tina Falls/Godini near Qumbu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday night.
The patrollers were reportedly preparing for duty at their base at Lugongozo Senior Secondary School when attackers struck with an assortment of firearms.
In addition to the six fatalities, four other patrollers were injured in the attack.
The President offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and extended wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.
He condemned the violence, describing it as a grave loss to the community and an assault on the efforts of ordinary citizens to maintain safety in their area.
The President had previously also conveyed his condolences to the families of the 18 people killed last month.
Meanwhile, Cabinet welcomed the successes of intelligence-led operations conducted in the Verulam and Highflats areas in KwaZulu-Natal.
“In the Verulam operation, police confronted a mastermind and one of the most wanted suspects in most of the cash-in-transit robberies in KwaZulu-Natal. The suspect was killed in a shootout after he opened fire against the police. Similarly, two suspects in the murder of seven people in the Highflats case were killed in a shootout with the police,” Cabinet said.
According to reports last month, seven people, including three children, were allegedly killed execution-style while sitting in the lounge.
In addition, Cabinet said it was encouraged by the continued success of Operation Shanela.
“In the past week, over 10 000 suspects were arrested for various offences such as murder, rape, possession of illegal firearms, business robberies and drug mules for possession of cocaine at our ports of entry.
"Cabinet further commended a joint operation in Limpopo that led to the discovery of a drug lab in Lebowakgomo, where drugs to the value of approximately R4 million were seized and three suspects arrested,” Cabinet said.
It has also welcomed the arrest of six engineering firm directors accused of Black Economic Empowerment fronting and tender fraud of R400 million at Eskom and Sasol.
GBVF
On gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), Cabinet welcomed the sentencing of serial rapist, Nkosinathi Phakathi.
Phakathi was sentenced to 42 life terms by the Gauteng High Court on Friday.
Cabinet said the “landmark sentencing” sends a strong warning to perpetuators of GBVF that “our nation will not be held to ransom by their heinous acts.”
“Cabinet calls on all South Africans to report all perpetrators of GBVF crimes or any form of violence against vulnerable persons – a child, older person or person with a disability – to a local police station or call the toll-free Crime Stop number: 086 00 10111.” -SAnews.gov.za
