A man serving a life sentence for murder and robbery appeared in the Luskisiki Magistrates' Court on Thursday as the prosecution alleges that he was the one who planned the massacre. He stands accused of planning the brutal execution of 18 people from inside his prison cell.

Mzukisi Ndamase (46) is kept in South Africa's "Supermax" prison in Kokstad, but it is alleged that he had been able to plan and execute the murders of 18 people in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, from his prison cell.

The victims, all members of an extended family, were home for a traditional ceremony and sleeping when men broke into their home and killed 18 people.

Ndamase has been in prison since 2007, where he is serving a life sentence for murder and robbery. He scowled and declined legal representation on Thursday, 31 October 2024, while appearing in court, heavily shackled and guarded by armed police officers and Correctional Services officials. He also declined an opportunity to apply for bail.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the investigators had only one more aspect of the case to investigate, and that was the money trail. He said the police were doing excellent work, and at this stage, they did not want to divulge the links between the deceased and the accused as they feared that this might compromise the investigation.

The Department of Correctional Services has not yet commented on the allegations that the hit was planned from behind bars.

Tyali...