Police top brass have expressed confidence in their investigative work stating that arrests were imminent as one person has been taken for questioning while they were looking for other known persons in connection with the Lusikisiki massacre where 18 people were murdered.
National police commissioner Fannie Masemola provided an update on the status of their investigation on Tuesday following a visit to the grieving families and a community engagement.
Ngobozana village in the Eastern Cape was left reeling after seventeen family members were gunned down on Saturday while sleeping at two homesteads as they prepared for a traditional ceremony.
One of the six injured died in hospital on Sunday.
Masemola was joined by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, his deputies and provincial government officials including Premier Oscar Mabuyane who assured the public that progress was being made in the case.
“SAPS management (deployed) a team consisting of national and provincial specialists including ballistic and forensics experts who deal with serious and violent crime, to investigate this senseless and barbaric incident. They worked through the scene, at this stage we can say we know who we are looking for.
“The investigation is going well and police have taken one person of interest for questioning.
“He is not arrested but is being questioned.
“After thorough questioning, detectives will determine if there are grounds to arrest. We also appeal to residents who might have more information to assist us. Another update will be given when there are developments,” said Masemola.
Mchunu described the murders as senseless and unjustifiable.
“We have all the confidence in the national commissioner and our officers that there will be results very soon. The arm of law will catch up with the suspects and I know they must be shaking now wherever they are although they were brave enough to commit that heinous crime. They killed people who were defenceless with the majority being women, they were patient enough to ensure the people died using different weapons.
“We appreciate the families cooperation to allow the police to do their work as the investigation has intensified. The level of policing in South Africa is changing, this is a different era. We are trying to rebuild the trust, there might be things here and there that broke it but we are working to get it back,” said Mchunu.
Mabuyane said following discussions with the families, an agreement was reached to assist them with burial arrangements and psychosocial services.
“The accounting officials are handling things to ensure that due processes are followed including procurements as we work with the funeral parlours.
“A small committee of all spheres of government will also be established to assist the families and mitigate the disastrous effects of this.
“What is clear to us is that criminals have declared war, this amount of deaths only happen when people are at war. Law and order needs to be restored in our communities. We can't continue to coexist with criminality at this level.”
He said some family members have expressed fear to return to the area and the funerals might be held at another village as a result.
Cape Times