Lusikisiki massacre confessions obtained voluntarily — detective

A detective with more than 40 years of service with the police told the Lusikisiki murder trial how two of the six men accused of the massacre had confessed to the crimes. Colonel Mandla Miya, now commander of the Mthatha Central police station detective branch, was head of detectives at the Port St Johns police station when he took the confession of Siphosoxolo Myekethe, 46, on October 8 2024. Miya also told the Mthatha high court sitting in Lusikisiki how he took a statement from Bonga “Rico” Hintsa, 31, on October 25 that year, on the pointing out of a crime scene in respect of the killing of ANC regional leader Mncedisi Sncane Gijana at his Lubhacweni home in KwaBhaca.

Questioned by senior prosecutor Mfundo Makhubalo, Miya testified that both accused spoke voluntarily to him. He said Myekethe confessed to his involvement in the Lusikisiki shootings while Hintsa pointed out locations related to Gijana’s murder. Miya said neither man was injured nor complained of being tortured or beaten by police, threatened or promised anything.

“Mr Hintsa has scars on his body, chest, back and head, but said that those were old scars from injuries when he was attacked and stabbed by his enemies,” he said. However, both accused have alleged their statements were made under duress. Myekethe alleges he was tortured by the police, including being handcuffed and suffocated with a plastic bag.

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His lawyer, attorney Fuzile Ngxukumeshe, said his client was physically and verbally abused. Hintsa, a mechanical engineering graduate, alleged he was threatened with death if he did not confess, and that the police had said they would throw his body into a river in KwaZulu-Natal. Six men — alleged massacre mastermind Mzukisi Ndamase, 46, Aphiwe Ndende, 25, Myekethe, Hintsa, Songezo Vuma, 21, and Mawethu Nomdlembu, 36 — face charges related to the mass shooting in Ngobozana village, Lusikisiki, on September 28 2024.

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