- Four men accused of a mass killing in Mfuleni’s Madikizela informal settlement, which left five people dead, are appearing in Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court today (12 December) on charges of murder and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
- Two suspects, Vuyile Gqomo and Lwando Makeni, face murder and firearms charges, while Lilitha Phalane and Siphelele Gqomo are charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
- Local leaders commend the swift arrests but express concerns about firearm suppliers, urging further investigation to dismantle networks enabling such crimes.
Four men who were arrested in connection with the mass killing at Madikizela informal settlement in Mfuleni on Sunday 1 December are expected to appear at Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court again today (12 December).
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday 3 December and appeared in court on Thursday 5 December (“Four suspects arrested,” City Vision, 5 December).
Their case was postponed to today.
They are are accused of shooting and killing five people while they were sitting in one of their shacks.
Eric Ntabazalila, the provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson said the suspects are facing charges of murder and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
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“Vuyile Gqomo and Lwando Makeni are charged with five murder cases and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition. While Lilitha Phalane and Siphelele Gqomo are charged with possession of illegal firearms and ammunition only,” said Ntabazalila, adding that all their cases were postponed for Thursday 12 December in Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court.
A local community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of harassment, called for the law to take its course.
“We praised the law enforcement officers for quickly arresting the perpetrators. We want the perpetrators to rot in jail. We don’t have a space for them here. What they did was atrocious,” he said.
However, the leader said he strongly believes that there are people who are working with the perpetrators.
He questioned how the suspects got such firearms.
“These suspects are too young. And I ask myself, where did they get these big guns? I believe there are people who are supplying them with guns and ammunition, and they need to tell us. Who are they working for,” he said.
