More arrests imminent as five Kwazakhele massacre accused appear in court

Two of the five men arrested in connection with the Kwazakhele birthday mass shooting abandoned their bail bids when they appeared in the magistrate’s court in Gqeberha yesterday, while the police confirmed two more arrests were imminent.

Eight people were killed and three critically wounded during the attack on January 29.

Mzwandile Mahambehlala, 33, was the first suspect to be arrested — about a month after the attack.

Mahambehlala was arrested on March 3 at a block of flats in Walmer, while his five co-accused managed to evade arrest for more than three weeks.

Mahambehlala’s co-accused, Siyabulela Funde, Luyanda April, Luzuko Tsotsi and Sinaye Tyesi, all 30 years old, were arrested on March 27 in Peelton township, Qonce, after a tip-off was received about their whereabouts.

They each face eight counts of murder, three of attempted murder, and charges relating to the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Defence attorney Danie Gouws, recently appointed to represent Mahambehlala, said after consultations with his client, his instructions were to abandon Mahambehlala’s bail application for now.

Gouws told the court he was not in possession of the docket and did not know how far the investigation was.

He therefore could not continue with a formal bail application at this stage.

April also confirmed to the court that he did not wish to apply for bail.

The remaining three accused indicated they intended to appoint private attorneys to represent them.

The matter was subsequently postponed to April 12.

The five accused have not yet pleaded to the charges.

During the shooting, two gunmen opened fire at a birthday celebration in Maqanda Street at about 5.15pm on January 29, killing seven people, and wounding four others.

An eighth person died of his injuries injuries in hospital later.

The motive remains unknown.

The incident grabbed national and international headlines.

The owner of the house where the fatal shootings took place, Andile Sishuba, had been celebrating his birthday and the successful awarding of a tender, and was among the victims, together with his brother, Vusumzi. Bay district police commissioner Major-General Vuyisile Ncata, who was present during the court proceedings yesterday, said two more arrests were imminent.

“We are expecting two more arrests soon and the investigation is still ongoing,” Ncata said.

The Hawks are heading the investigation.