Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene has commended the swift arrest of a 32-year-old suspect allegedly involved in the brutal murders of three teenage learners and the injury of another on Sunday evening, November 19, 2023.
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It is alleged that on the mentioned date at about 22:00, four teenagers aged between 17 and 19 years old were shot in an outbuilding in Mdantsane’s NU1.
“The owner of the house heard gunshots coming from the back of her house where the teenagers were studying.”
“An injured victim ran to her house for assistance. One victim died on the scene, while another two died in hospital, and the fourth victim is still in hospital. The victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds,” said provincial police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu.
According to Naidu, the motive for the shooting is yet to be established, and a case of murder (3 counts) and attempted murder is under investigation.
The deceased were scholars at Buchule Senior Secondary School and Mzomhle Senior Secondary School in Mdantsane, respectively.
The suspect was arrested on Monday, November 20, and was expected to appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate Court today, November 22, on the respective charges.
Mene sent her condolences to the families of the deceased and the injured teenagers.
Mene said,
Meanwhile, Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade has expressed shock and condemned the incident.
Gade said,
“The society needs to join hands in protecting our learners. We call upon the Justice system to harshly sentence these heartless criminals. Furthermore, we have mobilised other sister departments to ensure all affected schools and families receive our support as a government. May the families of these three learners find solace in God during this trying time of their lives. We send our sincere condolences to them during this period. I also wish a speedy recovery to the survivor of this incident who is still in a critical condition in hospital,” Gade added.
