The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli together with the Mayor of Langalibalele LM Cllr Mduduzi Myeza, under uThukela District, the Head of the Department of Community Safety and Liaison, Ms Glen Xaba-Makhetha and the District Commander, Major General Gonya on Tuesday, 29 October 2024, visited the crime scene and families of the deceased.
This visit comes after a gruesome killing of five people who were part of the traditional ceremony at Nyezane area in Amangwe, Estcourt on Sunday, 27 October 2024.
Premier Ntuli condemned the incident, the cruelty and disrespect by these young perpetrators.
The Premier praised the Police in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal and uThukela District in particular under Commander, Major General Gonya. “We must applaud the work of the police in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal and on this incident again they shown diligence and managed to apprehend six suspects within 24 hours. We also commend members of the community for coming forth with information, because we were told it was because of the info supplied by community members that assisted the police to make these arrest. Therefore, I appeal to all communities in KwaZulu-Natal to support the work of the police, in so doing, I am optimistic that we will realize a peaceful and safer KwaZulu-Natal. ”
The five suspects were found in possession of two AK47 assault rifles with 115 rounds of ammunition, two pistols with 12 rounds of ammunition, one .38 special revolver with one round of ammunition and a vehicle which they used as getaway from the crime scene was also recovered.
One of the recovered firearms belonged to a man who was killed during the Sunday mass shooting. Investigations also led the police to a house at Ezakheni where another firearm was recovered. The recovered firearms will be taken for ballistic testing to ascertain if they are linked to other crime scenes in and around the province.
The Premier also praised the courage of one of the deceased, who drew his legal firearm and shot at the first suspect to be arrested, before succumbing to his injuries.
The five suspects, aged between 23 and 46 years old, will appear in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, thereafter they will be taken to Estcourt to face multiple charges of murder. The 28-year-old suspect who was arrested on Sunday will appear in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 29 October 2024 on charges of murder.
The arrested suspects are believed to have been involved in several stock theft and murder cases around Amangwe and the surrounding.
