BIRTHDAY MASS MURDER SUSPECTS ARRESTED @ PEELTON E-QONCE:
Four more suspects in relation to the murder that claimed 8 lives at KwaZakhele Township in the Nelson Mandela Metro will go some way in putting an end to the spate of mass killings in the Metro and across the province says Community Safety MEC, Xolile Nqatha.
The police through the Serious and Violent Crime Unit, pounced on the four suspects on Monday night (27 March) at Peelton Village just outside Qonce where they were hiding. The arrests were made possible by the collaboration between the police and the community members. The four suspects, aged between 30 and 34 will join Mzwandile Mahambehlala (33) – who was arrested earlier in the month and is currently in Custody for the mass murder.
It is alleged that the five suspects ambushed and sprayed with bullets 11 people who were celebrating a birthday at KwaZakhele Township on Sunday, January 29th. A total of seven people died on the scene while another later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
MEC Nqatha has hailed the police and community partnership for the arrest. We are now calling on the entire justice system to work together toward a successful prosecution, conviction, and sentencing.
“It is through an arrest that the trial can ensue, and a conviction and a sentence can be delivered. We are by no means convicting the five men, but we are saying to the courts there’s evidence pointing to these men. And what we know for sure is that a gruesome crime was committed, eight people were killed in cold blood, and there should be justice for the victims,” said MEC Nqatha.
