‘Kill everyone’ was order from massacre accused, court hears

The chilling words of an alleged underworld boss echoed through the Mthatha high court in Lusikisiki on Monday as a former lieutenant-turned-state witness detailed orders to wipe out entire families in a campaign of revenge.

“Mzukisi Ndamase’s orders were clear: eliminate anyone associated with the Sinqina family and the Gqubeni boys in revenge for the attack on his nephew Bonga. Kill everyone.”

This was the testimony of Lonwabo “Chester” Abi, once a trusted “soldier” in Ndamase’s network.

His evidence provided the most direct link yet between the accused and the massacre that left 18 people dead in Ngobozana village in September 2024.

Abi told the court that Ndamase’s fury was ignited after his nephew, Bonga, was shot and wounded on September 26 2024.

He said Ndamase was convinced the attack had been orchestrated by the Gqubeni gang and the Sinqina family, working with his own sister, with whom he was feuding.

“He strongly believed that his nephew was attacked by the Gqubeni boys and the Sinqina family,” Abi testified.

“He said they were undermining him, provoking him, and playing with fire. He wanted them all punished severely.”

The court heard that Ndamase maintained a network of “soldiers” across the province, including in Lusikisiki, Port St Johns, Mthatha, Tsolo, Dutywa, Flagstaff and Butterworth.

But he had grown concerned that the Gqubenis, in Ntafufu, were no longer taking his orders.

“He believed they were now working with the Sinqina family and targeting his relatives,” Abi said.

Ndamase also suspected his sister of being behind the shooting of his nephew, allegedly in collaboration with the Sinqinas.

The family’s son, Siyanda “Supa” Sinqina, had once worked for Ndamase before being gunned down at his home in October 2022. Ndamase is suspected of involvement in that killing.

Abi, who said he had stayed in a rented flat in Amalinda, East London, described how he was drawn into the planning of the massacre.

“I got a call from Mzukisi at about 10am on September 27,” Abi said.

“He told me to organise a vehicle for the hit. He said we must hunt down the Gqubeni boys and kill them all, and also kill everyone at Siyanda’s home in revenge for the attack on Bonga.

“He said, ‘Amakhaya abo makavalwe ngehlahla’ — meaning that their homes must be wiped out completely.”

The following day, September 28, 18 people — including 15 women and a 13-year-old boy — were slaughtered at the homesteads of sisters Mary Sinqina and Nancy Sinqina-Matu.

Six men are on trial for the killings:

• Mzukisi Ndamase, 46;
• Aphiwe “AP” Ndende, 25;
• Siphosoxolo Myekethe, 45;
• Bonga “Rico” Hintsa, 31;
• Songezo “Mashiya” Vuma, 20; and
• Nomdlembu (surname withheld by court), 36.

They face 29 charges including 19 counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Ndamase has been serving a life sentence for murder and 15 years for robbery since 2007.

Abi testified that his role was to transport weapons and suspects between Lusikisiki, Port St Johns, Flagstaff and Kokstad.

He ferried firearms, collected the accused men and drove them to the Sinqina homestead on the night of the massacre.

Before setting out, Abi said, the group prepared using traditional medicine.

“We ate cooked meat mixed with muti and also bathed in it.”

“This was to make us brave and unshootable. The muti was black and another red, prepared by a traditional healer from Lusikisiki.”

He said the accused spent September 27 searching unsuccessfully for the Gqubeni boys before turning their sights on the Sinqina household.

“Vuma said we must go to Supa’s place in Ngobozana. We were armed with AK-47s and a pump gun. I dropped them near the home and waited further up the road.

“Minutes later I heard heavy gunfire — first short bursts, then continuous. I thought they were in a gun battle with the Gqubeni boys.”

When the men returned, they said the mission was complete.

“I did not know how many people were killed until I heard Hintsa saying, ‘What were so many people doing at Siyanda’s home?’

“That is when I suspected that many people had been shot,” Abi said.

He later learnt of the pleas of Mary Sinqina.

“Hintsa said that a woman opened the door and begged, ‘My children and the others here know nothing. Please spare them and kill me alone.’ But they shot her anyway.”

Abi said Ndamase was pleased with the outcome.

“He said this would send a strong message to anyone trying to undermine his authority.

“He thanked us for carrying out the mission successfully.”

The group hid firearms in a ceiling in Flagstaff before travelling to Kokstad.

Abi then drove some accused to Durban and Port Shepstone, while others stayed in guest houses.

Abi was arrested in East London on October 16 2024. In March, charges against him were withdrawn after he agreed to testify for the state.

He told the court his relationship with Ndamase stretched back to Wellington Prison in Mthatha, where they met in 2018.

Though he was released the following year, the two remained in contact until their arrests.

The Lusikisiki high court was packed on Monday as Abi gave his account.

Relatives of the victims filled the gallery, some struggling to hold back tears as details of the killings were revealed.

The trial continues.

Daily Dispatch