KZN police arrest suspects linked to Estcourt mass murders
Police in KwaZulu-Natal have arrested five suspects allegedly linked to a mass shooting in Estcourt on Sunday.
The men were nabbed in Acaciaville in Ladysmith.
Provincial South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said acting on intelligence, police teams found the men hiding inside a room.
"They were found in possession of two AK47 assault rifles with 115 rounds of ammunition, two pistols with 12 rounds of ammunition, one .38 special revolver with one round of ammunition and a vehicle which they used as getaway from the crime scene was also recovered," Netshiunda said.
He said one of the guns recovered belonged to one of the deceased from Sunday's shooting.
"Investigations also led the police to a house at Ezakheni where another firearm was recovered. The recovered firearms will be taken for ballistic testing to ascertain if they are linked to other crime scenes in and around the province," Netshiunda added.
The suspects are aged between 23 and 46 and are expected to appear in the Ladysmith Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Netshiunda said the suspects are allegedly involved in several cases of stock theft and murders in the Amangwe and surrounding areas.
Netshiunda said the suspects will be taken to Estcourt to face multiple charges of murder.
He said a 28-year-old suspect, arrested on Sunday, will appear in the Estcourt Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of murder.
On Sunday, four people, aged 45, 57, 60 and 61 were gunned down on Sunday afternoon during a traditional ceremony. KZN Premier Thami Ntuli is expected to visit the families of the deceased on Tuesday.
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