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Cele back in NMB for court appearance of mass murder suspects

Minister Cele at a roadblock during a recent visit to Gqeberha

Supplied


Police Minister Bheki Cele is set to return to Gqeberha on Thursday for the court appearance of four suspects allegedly involved in the Kwazakhele mass shootings.

Cele, who will be accompanied by Community Safety MEC, Xolile Nqatha, had promised to net the criminals who killed eight people at a birthday celebration on 29  January.

Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, said the latest arrests were made on Monday night in Peelton near eQonce, by members of the Serious and Violent Crime Unit, and the Provincial Tracking Team.

This brings the number of suspects arrested for the murders to five, following the arrest of 33-year-old Mzwandile Mahambehlala's on 3 March.

He will make another court appearance next month in the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court.

The victims of the deadly attack were brothers Vusumzi and Andile Sishuba, Kholekile France, Mbuyiseli Mboya, Nomatamsanqa Mandla, Liyema Poro, Nandipha Koliti, while Thando Fibi died a few days later in hospital.

Meanwhile, Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police will also be in Gqeberha on Thursday for an oversight visit to the Forensic Science Laboratories in North End.

This lab is set to begin conducting DNA testing in April as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate the backlogs, which according to the Minister earlier this year, reduced from 241 000 to 1 600.

The Portfolio Committee will also visit the New Brighton Police Station which was ranked sixth nationally for murders in the policing precinct.

 

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