Lusikisiki Massacre: Police Arrest Three Suspects in Connection with Murder of 18 in South African Community

Three individuals allegedly linked to the murder of 18 people in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, South Africa, have been arrested.

The victims of the mass shooting, which occurred on September 28, 2024, were laid to rest over the weekend, with the youngest victim being just 14 years old.

The three men were apprehended in Port Shepstone on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast during an intelligence-led operation.

They were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, October 16, by members of the SAPS Port Shepstone K9 and Public Order Policing units.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda reported that police received a tip-off from a community member indicating that the wanted suspects were hiding in a rented accommodation at the Mkholombe informal settlement in Port Shepstone.

“A swift operation was put in motion and the three suspects, aged 22, 24 and 31 years old were arrested,” he stated.

He stated that the operation is ongoing, with police searching for a firearm that the suspects allegedly used in the crime.

On Tuesday, one individual previously arrested in connection with the shooting abandoned his bail application.

Siphosoxolo Myekethe, 45, who faces 18 counts of murder, appeared in the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court. Myekethe is a convicted killer who was out on parole at the time of the alleged offenses.

Police have not yet disclosed the motive behind the shooting.