The Lusikisiki mass shooting trial was on Wednesday postponed after a defence attorney for one of the six accused reportedly fell ill. The attorney, who also previously recused himself from the case, was one of two defence lawyers scheduled to cross-examine key state witness Lonwabo Abi, a former accused who has since turned state witness. The trial is being heard at the Mthatha High Court sitting in Lusikisiki.
Six men — Mzukisi Ndamase, 46, Aphiwe Ndende, Siphosoxolo Myekethe, 45, Bonga “Rico” Hintsa, 31, Songezo “Mashiya” Vuma, 21, and Mawethu Nomdlembu, 36 — face 29 charges, including 19 counts of murder. All have pleaded not guilty. Eighteen unarmed people — 15 women, a 13-year-old boy and one man — were shot dead in the early hours of September 28 2024, when gunmen attacked the neighbouring homesteads of sisters Nancy Sinqina-Mhatu and Mary Sinqina in Ngobozana village, Lusikisiki.
The victims, mostly family members and Roman Catholic Church congregants, had gathered to prepare for a traditionalumembulo, orukukhululwa kwezilaritual, marking the end of mourning for another Sinqina sister, Nomnikelo “Makhosi” Sinqina, 61, and her pregnant niece, Zinzi Sinqina-Jawuse, 31. The two women had been shot dead in August 2023 at Nomnikelo’s home in the same street. Zinzi was Mary’s daughter.
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The 19th murder charge relates to the killing of ANC Alfred Nzo regional leader Mncedi Gijana at his home in KwaBhaca on August 19 2024, just more than a month before the Lusikisiki massacre. Abi was due to be cross-examined on Wednesday by Vuma’s attorney, Xolile Babane. However, Babane’s colleague, Jongithemba Hanise, told judge Richard Brooks that the lawyer had been unwell since Monday and was taken to Mthatha for medical treatment.
“[He] has not been well since Monday, but for the sake of the progress of the trial he pushed on. “However, last night things got serious and I had to make arrangements for him to be transported to Mthatha for medical attention.
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