By Anita Dangazele
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola says that a person of interest is being questioned in connection with the murders of 18 people in Lusikisiki.
Masemola spoke at a media briefing at the Lusikisiki police station on Tuesday.
“At this stage, we know who we are looking for,” he said. “We do have one person of interest in for questioning; he’s not under arrest, but we have a direction, and we will update the nation as we go along. The investigation is going well.”
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, along with police top brass and Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, met with residents of the Ngobozana administrative area on Tuesday after meeting with the victims’ families.
Mchunu shared how the families spoke openly about their grief and anger over the horrific manner in which their relatives were killed.
“We accept their criticism, we accept their views, we understand the situation,” he said. “[…] We are sorry that at the hour when those people needed us, we were not there, and we couldn’t be there to protect them.
“They were defenceless, they were not armed, they were not expecting anything. So, I understand when people express themselves and say they need better policing. That I accept, that is our work,” Mchunu told the grief-stricken community.
Meanwhile, Ingquza Hill mayor Nonkosi Pepping said different spheres of government were working together to organise a mass funeral for the victims.
“There is no one, except for the government, that can take responsibility for a mass funeral of 18 people. So as the different spheres [of government], we are finalising arrangements of the mass burial today,” Pepping said.
Mabuyane confirmed that the provincial government will assist families with burial arrangements and psychosocial counselling services.
Pictured above: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu with national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, first deputy police minister Polly Boshielo, and second deputy Cassel Mathale.
Source: Supplied
