Ingquza Hill Local Municipality has confirmed that one of the two suspects arrested in connection with the horrific mass shooting on 28 September in Ngobozana is a municipal employee. The suspect, who works as a security officer in the municipality's Community Services Department, was reportedly found in possession of firearms and ammunition believed to have been used during the incident that claimed the lives of 18 people.

In a statement, Mayor Cllr. Pepping expressed regret over the alleged involvement of a municipal employee in the tragedy and reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to upholding the law.

“We want to applaud the work the police are doing, and we have faith that they will get to the last guilty person. In the same breath, we regret to learn that one of our employees is amongst the accused. We will await the process and act accordingly when the time comes. As the institution, we believe in the rule of law and its processes. If found guilty, the law must take its course,” said Cllr. Pepping.

The police are continuing their investigation into the mass shooting, and the court dates for the accused suspects are yet to be confirmed.

Ward 16 Councillor Faces Fraud Charges

In a separate incident, Ward 16 Councillor Ms. Thuliswa Jotile was arrested by the HAWKS on Wednesday on allegations of fraud. She appeared briefly in Mthatha High Court on Thursday and was granted R2,000 bail. Her case has been scheduled for 24 October 2024.

The municipality acknowledged the gravity of the situation and the potential impact on the community, stating its commitment to cooperate with authorities to ensure law and order are maintained. “The municipality is aware of the damage and fear this might inflict on the community of Ingquza Hill, and we will ensure that we cooperate and assist where we can in order to make sure that law and order are restored,” said the statement.