State witness Lonwabo Abi on Monday told the Mthatha high court sitting in Lusikisiki that Mzukisi Ndamase, accused of planning the Lusikisiki massacre from Mthatha’s Wellington Prison, instructed him to destroy cellphones to hide evidence of their communications.
Ndamase has been serving a life sentence for robbery since 2007.
The massacre, which occurred on September 28 2024, left 18 people — 15 women, two men and a 13-year-old boy — dead at the homes of sisters Nancy Sinqina-Matu and Mary Sinqina in Ngobozana village.
The group had gathered for a traditional umembulo ritual to mark the end of mourning for Nomnikelo “Makhosi” Sinqina, 61, and her daughter Zinzi Sinqina-Jawuse, 31, killed in August 2023.
Abi, who has been testifying since Wednesday last week, told the court that Ndamase, 46, directed him to “deep flash” his cellphone to erase data.
“You phoned from prison using another phone, saying I must get rid of my phone.
“You said you sought help from a Ghanaian to assist you in deep flashing your cellphone before it was taken by the police.
“You instructed me to do the same: deep flash my cellphone, destroy it, and get rid of it. I did that and when I handed myself over to the police and was arrested, I no longer had my cellphone,” Abi said.
He claimed Ndamase sent a WhatsApp image captioned “the Gatyeni chapter had closed,” referring to ANC Alfred Nzo regional leader Mncedisi Sincane Gijana, killed in Lubhacweni village near KwaBhaca on August 19 2024.
Abi also alleged Ndamase sent a video of a badly injured or dead person, which he showed to his wife and a trusted Bolt driver before destroying the phone.
“I damaged it and threw it away as you instructed me to do,” Abi told Ndamase during cross-examination.
Ndamase and co-accused Aphiwe “AP” Ndende, 25, Siphosoxolo Myekethe, 45, Bonga “Rico” Hintsa, 31, Songezo “Mashiya” Vuma, 21, and Mawethu Nomdlembu, 36, face 29 charges, including 19 counts of murder for the massacre and Gijana’s killing. All have pleaded not guilty.
Abi testified that Ndamase arranged accommodation in KwaBhaca for Ndende and Hintsa to carry out Gijana’s killing.
During cross-examination, Ndamase denied the allegations, suggesting Abi targeted Gijana over a drug dispute.
“I am not a drug dealer, I was never involved in the business of selling drugs, I never sent you a picture or video of Gatyeni, I was never involved in the killing of Gatyeni and the killings in Ngobozana,” Ndamase said.
Abi responded that he sold drugs only in Dutywa and had no interest in KwaBhaca, alleging Ndamase ordered Gijana’s killing due to personal grievances, including Gijana’s failure to visit him in prison or support his parole application.
Abi also linked Ndamase to the murders of Ingquza Hill councillor Fundisile Ranai, 49, and his son, Siyolise, 18, in Lusikisiki’s Joe Slovo Park on September 16 2022, Dutywa detective Sergeant Siviwe Mamba on March 4 2023, a Matatiele taxi boss and the August 2023 killings of Makhosi Sinqina and Zinzi Sinqina-Jawuse.
He admitted involvement in the murder of his friend, Teki Gubela, in Dutywa.
Ndamase was arrested on October 29 2024 at Wellington Prison, where police reportedly found two cellphones in his cell.
The trial continues on Wednesday.
Daily Dispatch
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