Ndamase heaps praise on co-accused but denies mass killing

Alleged Lusikisiki massacre mastermind Mzukisi Ndamase used the witness stand on Friday to portray co-accused Siphosoxolo “BG” Myekethe as a feared convicted murderer, while insisting neither of them was responsible for the killing of 18 people that shocked the Eastern Cape. Testifying in the Mthatha High Court sitting in Lusikisiki, Ndamase described himself and Myekethe as convicted murderers with feared reputations, but denied he had ordered the September 2024 massacre or the assassination of ANC Alfred Nzo regional leader and Umzimvubu councillor Mncedisi Gijana. The evidence came during cross-examination by Myekethe’s attorney, Fundile Ngxukumeshe.

Ndamase was responding to evidence from defence lawyers acting for other accused, who have alleged their clients committed crimes on his instructions because they feared him and believed those who defied him were killed. Asked about Myekethe, Ndamase praised his former associate’s reputation. “There is no man in Lusikisiki as brave and dangerous as BG.

“He is the only one I know who engaged a whole group of armed police officers in a fierce gunfight, defeated them and made them run away. “Afterward, he set their police vehicle on fire and stood warming himself in its flames.” His remarks drew laughter from some people in the public gallery. Ndamase told the court he and Myekethe had known each other for 26 years and that their friendship had been strengthened while serving prison sentences together.

[paywall]

“You cannot say BG is afraid of anything. He is feared. I know him very well,” he said. “We were not just fellow inmates, we shared a cell, confided in each other and knew each other’s strengths.”

[/paywall]