Alleged mastermind questions co-accused about video and actions on day of Ngobozana killings
The special sitting of the Mthatha High Court in Lusikisiki continued this week as the man the State describes as the alleged mastermind in the Ngobozana killings faced off with one of his co-accused. According to reporting by SABC News, Mzukisi Ndamase, who is representing himself, cross‑examined accused number three, Siphosoxolo Myekethe.
Court evidence, as reported, says 18 people died in Ngobozana. During his questioning Ndamase suggested Myekethe had aligned his testimony with the State witness, Lwando Abi. The exchange focused on where Myekethe was on the day of the killings, whether he was armed and what he did after receiving a video depicting the killing of politician Mncedisi Gijana.
Myekethe told the court he remained outside the premises where the killings took place and that he was not armed on the day. He confirmed receiving the video from Ndamase and said he exercised his right to delete it because he “did not trust the police”, SABC News reported. Ndamase pressed him on why he did not hand the video to police given that, as a parolee, Myekethe was not permitted to be involved in criminal activity.
Myekethe said he deleted the video because he "did not trust the police," according to SABC News.
Myekethe also told the court he followed instructions from Ndamase out of fear for his life, explaining that he feared being killed should he defy those instructions, the report states. The pair and their co‑accused face a series of charges arising from the Ngobozana incident, including murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
- Location of proceedings: Mthatha High Court special sitting in Lusikisiki
- Main persons named: Mzukisi Ndamase (alleged mastermind, representing himself), Siphosoxolo Myekethe (accused number three), Lwando Abi (State witness), Mncedisi Gijana (victim named in evidence)
- Charges reported: murder; illegal possession of firearms and ammunition
The appearance of the alleged mastermind in person is notable for the dynamics it brings to the trial. Self‑representation changes courtroom procedure, shifting the normal flow of examinations and legal argument to someone who is not an officer of the court. It also places victims’ families and the community in a setting where key factual disputes — such as who was armed and who gave instructions — are tested directly between accused individuals.
For Lusikisiki residents the case remains a source of anxiety. The killings in Ngobozana resulted in a significant loss of life in a single incident, and the trial’s progress is being followed closely by families and local leaders seeking accountability. The special sitting in Lusikisiki aims to make the process more accessible to the community by holding hearings locally rather than at a distant court.
| Name | Role in proceedings | Allegations / issues reported |
|---|---|---|
| Mzukisi Ndamase | Alleged mastermind; representing himself | Central figure in alleged orchestration; conducted cross‑examination |
| Siphosoxolo Myekethe | Accused number three | Says he remained outside; alleged to have received then deleted a video; denies being armed |
| Lwando Abi | State witness | Evidence to which Myekethe is said to be aligning his testimony |
The trial will continue as the court sorts through disputed accounts of the events and the unusually direct confrontations prompted by self‑representation. The issues raised in the hearing — the deletion of digital evidence, a parolee’s obligations, and alleged coercion by a suspected leader — touch on broader questions about case management, evidence preservation and protection of witnesses in serious violent crimes.
Local residents and families of the deceased continue to watch proceedings closely as the court aims to resolve contested facts and move towards judgement in a case that has had a profound effect on the Lusikisiki community.
