South Africa’s Lusikisiki Massacre Trial Begins

Six men accused of carrying out the Lusikisiki massacre have appeared before the Eastern Cape High Court in Mthatha as their trial officially began. The proceedings are expected to last around eight weeks, with the first state witnesses scheduled to testify in the coming days.

The case stems from the September 2024 killings in Ngobozana Village near Lusikisiki, where 18 people, most of them women attending a family gathering, were gunned down when assailants stormed two neighbouring homesteads. Several others were injured during the attack, which shocked the rural community and sparked a massive investigation.

The six accused face multiple charges, including 18 counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Four of the men are also implicated in the murder of ANC politician Mncedisi Gijana, who was shot dead in KwaBhaca a month before the massacre. Two other suspects initially linked to the case had their charges dropped earlier this year, leaving the current six to stand trial.

All the accused have pleaded not guilty. Among them is Mzukisi Ndamase, alleged to be the mastermind behind the killings, who has chosen to represent himself in court. Already serving a life sentence and an additional 15 years for unrelated convictions, Ndamase has denied involvement, claiming he has been continuously imprisoned for the past 17 years and could not have participated in the massacre. He has also requested access to witness statements and asked that his handcuffs be removed during proceedings so he can take notes effectively.

The trial is expected to feature testimony from survivors of the attack, and court preparation officers have been assigned to support witnesses due to the traumatic nature of the case. The hearings are scheduled to continue through mid-September as the state presents evidence in one of the Eastern Cape’s most devastating mass murder cases in recent history.