The trial of six men accused of murdering 18 people in Ngobozana village, near Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape, is expected to resume on Tuesday.
Proceedings will continue in the Mthatha High Court, sitting specially in Lusikisiki, where state witness Lwando Abi will remain under cross-examination by the defence of accused number two.
Abi, who has turned state witness, is being questioned by lawyer Mawande Nokhwali, representing Aphiwe Ndende. During his evidence-in-chief, Abi told the court that after seeing his photograph circulating on social media as a wanted suspect, he approached a police officer friend, Anele Madotyeni, to accompany him when handing himself over to authorities.
He testified that Madotyeni contacted a policewoman attached to the Organised Crime Unit to meet with him. However, Nokhwali argued that Madotyeni’s actions were intended to facilitate Abi’s evasion of arrest a claim Abi has denied.
The victims, all members of the same family, were gunned down while asleep at their homestead in 2024 by unknown assailants.
The accused face a raft of charges, including multiple counts of murder, kidnapping and possession of unlicensed firearms.
The trial continues.