The brother of slain ANC Alfred Nzo regional leader Mncedisi Gijana, who was gunned down in KwaBhaca a year ago, broke down as he testified in the Mthatha high court sitting in Lusikisiki, where six men face multiple charges arising from two separate shootings.
Gijana, 58, was killed on his family homestead on August 19 2024.
In a second attack, in Lusikisiki on September 28, 18 people — many of them from the same family — were shot dead at the neighbouring homesteads of sisters Mary Sinqina and Nancy Sinqina-Matu in Ngobozana Village.
A decision was taken to combine the trials of the accused because several of them were allegedly linked to both attacks and the same weapons were used.
Gijana’s younger brother, Sisa, who took the stand on Thursday, is the first of 84 witnesses expected to be called during the trial, which is scheduled to run until September 19.
Together, the accused — alleged mastermind Mzukisi Ndamase, Aphiwe “AP” Ndende, Siphosoxolo Myekethe, Bonga “Rico” Hintsa, Mawethu Nomdlembu, and Songezo “Mashiya” Vuma — face a total of 24 charges.
Nomdlembu is not charged with any of the murders but faces counts relating to the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. He and Ndende are not charged in relation to Gijana’s murder.
All six accused have pleaded not guilty.
Sisa broke down and became increasingly emotional as he told the court how he found his brother’s bloodied body.
“I found my brother lying in a pool of blood on the couch in his room.
“His face was swollen and so was his body. He was already dead.”
Judge Richard Brooks decided to adjourn the case until after the lunch to give the witness time to regain his composure.
Other family members left the gallery in tears before the adjournment.
Earlier, Sisa testified how a heavily armed man had arrived at his home, an RDP house on the family homestead, and knocked on the door at about 7pm.
“When I was opening the door, a man pointed at me with a big firearm and instructed me to join others in the main house.
“He escorted me as we proceeded to the main house. At the main house there was another man, also carrying a big gun.
“There were three of us and we were seated in the lounge. They demanded cellphones.
“They asked what time ‘Mancane’ was arriving. Mancane is the nickname of my brother, and I told them he is attending a meeting, and it is difficult to tell what time he will be arriving.
“They said if he was not arriving, they will take us all with them and will see what they will be doing with us.
“They used the bathroom and called their friend, and I overheard one of them saying he was getting lost.”
He said a third assailant later arrived, also carrying a large brown weapon similar to those of his accomplices.
Soon thereafter, Gijana arrived and went to his flat on the homestead.
The three gunmen left the main house, leaving Sisa, three other family members and a shepherd in the main house.
“We heard gunshots ringing [out] and a dog barking.
“When we looked through the kitchen door, I saw one man breaking a window of my brother’s flat with the butt of the firearm and starting to open fire.
“The other man kicked open the door and opened fire from inside.
“Later I saw my brother emerging from the door holding a white bloodstained electric heater and his hands were full of blood.
“The men kicked and pushed him back to his room and after some few minutes we heard about three gunshots,” Sisa said.
He said that was the last time he saw his brother alive.
Sisa said after the shooting subsided, the three gunmen went to the main house and tied everyone up with shoelaces and electrical cords.
Before this, one of the men handed a backpack to a family member, instructing him to fill it with the alcohol bottles in the liquor cabinet and all their cellphones.
“Before they left, they said we must take Mancane to hospital and also warned that if we say a word they will deal with us,” he said.
The assailants had earlier asked where the family’s CCTV cameras were and then removed the equipment.
They escaped in a white Renault Sandero owned by Gijana’s wife, who was not home at the time of the attack.
Daily Dispatch
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