The Mthatha High Court special sitting in Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court is set to resume the trial of six accused linked to the Ngobozana massacre this morning, following an adjournment on Friday. The trial, which has captivated the attention of the nation, was paused after the first witness delivered a heartrending testimony, leading to an emotional outburst that left many in the courtroom in tears.
In a gripping development, the state has added another case to the ongoing proceedings. Prosecutors have revealed that firearms allegedly used in the massacre of 18 victims in Ngobozana have been linked to the tragic shooting of prominent African National Congress (ANC) politician, Mncedisi Gijana, in KwaBhaca.
Over the last two days, the court heard from Gijana’s brother, who recounted the horror of the night his sibling was killed. Describing the chilling encounter, the witness told the court how three masked men, armed with rifles, stormed their home in search of Gijana. His emotional testimony took a painful turn as he recounted discovering his brother in a pool of blood, having been shot multiple times in his own room. The assailants fled the scene in Gijana’s wife’s car, leaving a shattered family and a community in mourning.
As the trial progresses, the state is expected to call another witness to the stand this morning, potentially shedding light on the connections between the two violent incidents in quests for justice.