Police have arrested a suspect in the Lusikisiki massacre of 18 people.
Siphosoxolo Myekethe, 45, appeared in the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday after being nabbed at his home on Monday night.
Myekethe faces 18 murder charges and one for possessing an unlicensed AK47. The case was postponed until October 15 for further investigation.
A police source said cops caught Myekethe after he was identified by one of three persons of interest who were detained earlier this week during the investigation into the shooting.
“The information he [the person of interest] shared was verified and positively linked the suspect to the Ngobozana shooting,” the source said.
Myekethe allegedly named more suspects of the massacre who are still at large.
Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene confirmed the SAPS is searching for more suspects.
“We are pleased that we have successfully arrested a suspect that we can link positively to the incident in Ngobozana where 18 people were killed,” Mene said.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tyali revealed that Myekethe was out on parole when he was arrested.
“The prosecution will be opposing bail against the alleged murderer, who has two previous convictions for escaping from legal custody and murder, for which he is out on parole,” Tyali said.
In a separate case, police are questioning a person of interest about the Qumbu shooting where six stock-theft patrollers were shot dead on Sunday night.
Pictured above: The families of the 18 victims of the Lusikisiki massacre at the memorial service on Sunday.
