By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA Police Service (SAPS) have arrested six suspects linked with a mass shooting in the Nyezana village in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The suspects were found hiding inside a room at Acaciaville in Ladysmith and were arrested. They were found in possession of two AK47 assault riffles with 115 of ammunition, two pistols with 12 rounds of ammunition, one 38 special revolver with one round of ammunition and a vehicle used as a getaway from the scene.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the five people who were arrested on Monday afternoon were traced to a room in Acaciaville in Ladysmith.
He said two AK47 assault rifles with 115 rounds of ammunition, two pistols with 12 rounds of ammunition, one .38 special revolver with one round of ammunition, and a vehicle allegedly used as a getaway car were confiscated.”
“One of the recovered firearms belonged to a man who was killed during the Sunday mass shooting. Investigations also led the police to a house at Ezakheni where another firearm was recovered. The recovered firearms will be taken for ballistic testing to ascertain if they are linked to other crime scenes in and around the province,” Netshiunda said.
The arrest comes after a tip-off led Amangwe detectives to a hospital where a 28-year-old suspect was arrested on Sunday.
According to police, the mass shooting occurred when six masked gunmen entered a homestead during a traditional ceremony and opened fire.
“A group of six armed suspects, their identities concealed behind face masks, stormed a homestead where festivities were taking place. Witnesses recount a sudden eruption of chaos as the assailants opened fire with rifles and handguns, targeting the innocent attendees of the ceremony.”
In the wake of the attack, three victims were declared dead at the scene, while two others were swiftly transported to a local medical facility.
One of the injured later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the death toll to four. The deceased were aged between 45 and 61, part of a community that has now been shattered by this violence.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli and other provincial authorities are expected to visit the families of the deceased on Tuesday.