Durban - In a breakthrough in the probe into last month’s shooting spree that left 15 people dead in eZakheni near Ladysmith, police have nabbed a suspect who they believe was involved.
Six people were gunned down in two linked incidents and nine others died when the taxi they were in crashed head on into a truck. The driver of the taxi had tried to avoid the first shooting when he lost control of the vehicle.
The incidents took place on October 11.
Police said Themba “Kiniti” Mvelase, 30, was arrested at an undisclosed location and had two firearms in his possession.
Mvelase appeared in the Ezakheni Magistrate’s Court on Monday, said police spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane.
He has been charged with murder and attempted murder and would appear in court again on Monday for a formal bail application.
Zwane said more arrests were imminent, but he could not disclose how many were still being sought.
A special task team formed to address violent crime in the greater Ladysmith area had made the arrest. It includes members of the Hawks and the National Intervention Unit.
Zwane said two licensed firearms - a 9mm pistol and .303 rifle - were seized and would be sent for ballistic testing to ascertain if they had been used in the incidents.
Among the six people who were shot dead was Johannesburg resident, Phindile Thambekwayo. Her family believe the attack on her to have been a case of mistaken identity.
Gunmen had opened fire on a Gauteng-registered Mercedes-Benz in which she was an occupant.
The driver was lost and had been trying to find his way on to the highway to return to Johannesburg when they were shot at.
Thambekwayo had been travelling with her husband, Sizwe, and other relatives.
The husband told the Daily News’s sister paper, the Star, last month that when one of the assailants looked in with a gun in hand, he said: “We shot the wrong people, it’s not them”, before fleeing the scene.
Witnessing the suspects firing at the Mercedes-Benz, the taxi driver lost control of his vehicle and collided head on with a truck. Nine passengers died.
The gunmen then proceeded to a nearby car wash at eZakheni’s D-section and shot dead five men about 30 minutes later.
Police said 9mm and R5 rifle cartridges had been found at the scene.
eMnambithi Local Municipality mayor, Vincent Madlala, on Monday urged the community to assist the police with information to find the remaining killers.
He said it was only through the community taking a stand that perpetrators would be brought to book.
Community Safety MEC, Willies Mchunu, commended the police for the arrest, saying a “clear message” had been sent to criminals in the Ladysmith area.