Linda Twala faces seven counts of murder, illegal possession of a firearm and gang-related charges.
- A second suspect has appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court in connection with the June mass shooting in Gugulethu that left seven people dead.
- Linda Twala faces seven counts of murder, illegal possession of a firearm and gang-related charges.
- The State alleges ballistic evidence links him to the firearm used in the attack.
Police in the Western Cape have made another breakthrough in the investigation into the mass shooting that left seven people dead in Kanana informal settlement, Gugulethu, in June last year.
Linda Twala appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing seven counts of murder, illegal possession of a firearm and gang-related charges.
Twala is the second accused in the matter, joining Lungile Madolo, who previously handed himself over at Cape Town Central police station. Madolo surrendered himself after learning that the National Intervention Unit – a specialised police task force tasked with confronting heavily armed suspects – had been deployed in Gugulethu and Philippi. He reportedly travelled from Gugulethu to Cape Town Central, about 18km, fearing a potentially deadly confrontation with officers.
Madolo also faces an additional murder charge after the State alleged in court that he killed another man just kilometres from the scene of the mass shooting.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said ballistic evidence links Twala to the firearm used in the attack.
Ntabazalila said:
The State alleges that Twala has been linked ballistically to the firearm that was used in the mass shooting.
“The State further alleges that he facilitated the handling of the firearm before and after the mass shooting.”
Twala’s case was postponed to 2 March for bail information.
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The charge sheet lists the victims as Vuyolwethu Makongo, Siyanda Thongana, Afezile Thongana, Hlomla Thongana, Somile Vithela, Luyolo Zoneleni, Loyiso Jezile and Phumlani Zoya, all of whom were shot dead.
