Five people were shot and killed in Philippi East in October 2022 and the gunman disappeared into the darkness.
However, on Tuesday 07 March police arrested Lolwethu Mzilikazi(20) as the suspect. He appeared in Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said Mzilikazi is facing charges of murder.
“Lolwethu Mzilikazi, 20, appeared at the Athlone Magistrates Court this morning charged with five counts of murder, illegal possession of two firearms and illegal possession of ammunition. His case was postponed until 23 April 2023 for further investigation and forum,” he said.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Novela Potelwa said since the incident occurred, Serious Violence Crimes (SVC) detectives were investigating. She said all five murders occurred in one evening in October 2022 in Phillipi East.
“The investigation into the murders, which occurred in three crime scenes that were in the same vicinity and left five people dead, saw the SVC detectives conducting a search and seizure operation at an address in Phillipi East where they confiscated two firearms. The firearms were subsequently sent for ballistics testing,” she said.
Potelwa said further investigations currently underway are looking into whether the suspect can be linked to other murders.
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