Police arrest four wanted lusikisiki massacre suspects

PORT SHEPSTONE – Police in have arrested the four men who were wanted in connection with the Lusikisiki mass murder that claimed the lives of 18 people. Their arrest follows less than 24 hours after the police launched the manhunt of Songezo ‘Mashiya’ Vuma (20), Bonga ‘Rico’ Hintsa (31), Aphiwe ‘AP’ Ndende (25) and Lwando ‘Abi’ Shakes (31).

This after another suspect in the murder, Siphosoxolo Myekethe, appeared in the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court and abandoned his bail application on Tuesday. His case was postponed to November.

KZN police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said the suspects were arrested in Port Shepstone. “Police received a tip-off from a community member that the wanted suspects were hiding at a rented accommodation at Mkholombe informal settlement in Port Shepstone. A swift operation was put in motion, and the three suspects, aged 22, 24 and 31 years old, were arrested. The operation is ongoing with police searching for a firearm which the suspects allegedly used in the commission of the crime.”

General Fannie Masemola confirms that in less than 24 hours from the time the SAPS issued an alert on the wanted suspects, communities rallied together and informed police of their whereabouts. All four suspects are now in police custody.