The four men accused of murdering the seven members of the Mgxada family in Bityi last month are due to appear in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape.
The arrest was made after an intensive police investigation which was launched after the Mgxada family was gunned down, killing 7 people in total on the 16th of October. The incident happened while they were mourning the loss and murder of another family member.
Novotile Mgxada was shot dead a week before the mass murder.
The four men are expected to apply for bail.
The case was postponed on October 28 when three of the four men appeared in court.
This was due to the fourth suspect being hospitalized. He was wounded during a shootout with the police during the arrest.
The police made an arrest of two of the accused for possession of an unlicensed firearm. The accused then informed the police of the whereabouts of the other two accused in Mthatha.
A mass funeral for six of the Mgxada members family was held at Tantseka village in Bityi last month.
Addressing the mourners, Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Zolile William said Police Minister Bheki Cele has deployed the National Commissioner to head the investigation into the murder of eight Mgxada family members.
“Bityi police station will be upgraded. This implies that more services are going to be provided to the people of this area. Secondly, in respect to these killings that we experienced, the minister has deployed the National Police Commissioner who’s got investigative and detective background to be head of the team that will investigate”, said MEC Zolile William.
During his visitation last month to the family, Cele called for swift action to curb the high crime rate in the area.
Cele said, “The community suspects these killings are related to stock theft revenge, as the husband played a crucial role in the arrest of suspected stock thieves in the area. He is still in hiding. Police in the area are known for being under-resourced, resulting in poor policing.”
