The Lwandle community and family members had welcomed the arrest of a suspect in a mass shooting that killed 11 young people, but according to community leader Xolani Sotashe deeper work was still needed.

“It won’t bring back the lives that were stolen,” he pointed out, having just returned from Gcuwa (Butterworth) in the Eastern Cape where one of the “Lwandle 11” had been buried.

In a statement police said a 32-year-old suspect was arrested on Friday (9 October) at a Lwandle address. He faced 11 counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder in connection with the mass shooting as well as charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The shooting occurred at 01:46 on Sunday (27 September), when three unidentified gunmen allegedly opened fire on patrons at KwaNdelu Shisanyama, an entertainment venue in Vulindlela Street (“A community mourns“, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 30 September), leaving 11 people dead and 10 others injured.

The victims were identified as Tatenda Clavah, Siyathemba Jilaji, Khululekani Ndlovu, Avuyile Sikweza, Sivenathi Manxiwa, Abongile Hele, Lahluma Klaas, Okuhle Matibane, Ryan Tanaka Kaserera, Yonelani July and Siyanda Bangani, who succumbed to his injuries days after the attack (“Eleventh victim dies in hospital after Lwandle Shisanyama massacre“, 6 October).

Sotashe thanked Provincial Police Commissioner Lt Gen Sizakhele Dyantyi for the task team and investigation that led to the arrest.

From the beginning, he said, the leadership had been calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice while allowing law enforcement the space to do their work.

“This is an unprecedented event and I hope that not only the perpetrators are brought to justice but those behind the crime as well.”

But Sotashe emphasised that the arrest alone was not enough.

“It’s about getting back to basics because Lwandle has come a long way. We can’t let this place become a gangster paradise.”

The incident brought the community together to rally behind the families (“A week of mourning honours ‘Lwandle 11’ of mass shooting”, 7 October).

Among them is Luyanda Macokeni, whose niece Avuyile Sikweza (20) was one of those murdered.

The family had just returned from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, where she was buried.

“We are hanging in there,” Macokeni said. “It doesn’t change the situation.”

He said the family had been informed of the arrest while they were in the Eastern Cape. Macokeni, who had previously demanded justice for Sikweza, called this a step in the right direction (“Lwandle mass shooting: Uncle demands justice and resources“, 1 October).

“If police have the right person then justice must take its course, and they must face the music.”

Police recovered a Norinco firearm and six cartridges during the arrest. The firearm belongs to a deceased individual and had not been reported stolen, police said. Ballistics tests are underway to determine whether it was used in the shooting.

The suspect has also been linked to a separate shooting in Lwandle in July this year, in which three people were killed and four wounded, police said. He faces three additional murder charges and four attempted murder charges related to that incident.

Police said investigations into both incidents are continuing to establish whether other suspects were involved.

Provincial police spokesperson Col André Traut said the arrest was welcomed by police management.

“Police remain committed to pursuing all available leads and holding those responsible accountable.”

The suspect is expected to appear in the Strand Magistrate’s Court on Monday (12 October).