Phiwokuhle Mothemela
“I know it wasn’t God’s will that my brother died.”
These were the words of a distraught sibling of one of the victims of the nine people who were murdered in Kwanobuhle in Kariega in October 2022.
Ludwe Dyantjies, Simiselo Lukwe, Lindile Ndamse, Luvuyo Madela, and Nkosinathi Zonke are on trial in the Gqeberha High Court facing a string of charges including nine counts of murder.
On Thursday the five pleaded not guilty to the 15 charges against them.
Three years after the brutal murders, the family of one of the deceased got to see the alleged perpetrators in the dock for the first time.
“Seeing them in court brings up so many emotions,” the person said, wanting to remain anonymous out of fear for their lives.
The heartbroken person said they were trying "not to be angry" and "to let justice run its course".
The family sat through the day's proceedings during which state prosecutor Mujaahid Sandan detailed the brutal injuries sustained by the victims, who all sustained gunshot wounds to the head, chest, and abdomen.
They told Algoa FM News that they were at court in a bid to find justice for their loved ones.
“I was a first-year student in varsity when I received the news of my brother's death, and to tell you the truth, our lives have not been the same again.”
Meanwhile, after the lunch break on Thursday, the group told the court, through Lukwe and Ndamse’s legal representative adv. Bongo Mvinjelwa, that they have not eaten for the day and that they are subjected to soup and bread on a daily basis.
They added that while detained and awaiting trial, they only receive two meals per day.
Sandan then requested that the matter to be rolled over to Friday, saying he would try to get the Humewood police station commander and the head of St Albans Correctional Centre to court to clarify the food issue.
Also read: Kwanobuhle mass murder accused on trial in high court
