Lusikisiki massacre trial told of firearms stashes

The men accused of killing 18 people in Lusikisiki in September 2024 had at least eight automatic rifles, among them seven AK-47s, which they allegedly used on a number of “missions”, including murders and robberies. Of those firearms only three — two of them AK-47s — were recovered by police after the mass shooting. Others, including pump guns, the AK-47s and a 303 rifle, have reportedly not been recovered.

This evidence was led on Tuesday in the Mthatha high court, sitting in Lusikisiki, where key state witness Lonwabo Abi was questioned by Mzukisi Ndamase, the man accused of being the mastermind behind the massacre. Abi said some of the firearms were bought from a man known as “Godfather” in Durban, while handguns were exchanged for an assault rifle with a man in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, where Abi grew up. Abi, a former accused who turned state witness, testified that all the firearms were obtained on the orders of Ndamase, who was allegedly operating from his cell in Wellington prison, Mthatha.

Since 2007, Ndamase had been serving a life term for murder and 15 years for aggravated robbery and was on the verge of securing parole. Since taking the stand in August, Abi has revealed gruesome details of the September 28, 2024, mass shooting in Ngobozana village, Lusikisiki. He also told the court of many other killings, including those of two policemen.

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The six accused — Ndamase, 46, Aphiwe “AP” Ndende, 25, Siphosoxolo Myekethe, 45, Bonga “Rico” Hintsa, 31, Songezo “Mashiya” Vuma, 21, and Mawethu Nomdlembu, 36 — face a total of 29 charges, including 19 counts of murder. Nomdlembu is only charged with possession of firearms and not with murder.

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