Three men arrested after Eastern Cape initiation killings

Police in the Eastern Cape have arrested three men in connection with the murder of three young men who had been taking part in a traditional initiation ceremony, having launched an urgent 72-hour activation plan after fellow initiates made the gruesome discovery on Saturday 3 January. 

Police say that the arrests were made on Monday and Tuesday this week, and applauded the swift response of the task force assigned to hunting down the victims’ killers. 

The victims – aged between 19 and 20-years-old – were found dead having been last seen alive the previous evening. Their lifeless bodies were discovered riddled with bullets in a traditional initiation hut in the Jojweni village in Tsomo. 

Suspects arrested after initiation murders  

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Captain Khaya Tonjeni said in a statement on Wednesday that the suspects had been arrested nearby the area where the men were killed and have been charged with murder. 

“The Task Team recently assembled to investigate suspects behind the murder of three male circumcision initiates at Jojweni Village, Tsomo made a huge breakthrough resulting in arrests of three male suspects on Monday, 04 January 2021 and Tuesday, 05 January 2021,” he said. 

“The three suspects aged 27, 35 and 37-years-old, were arrested on Monday at Jojweni and Tsomo on Tuesday respectively. They are expected to appear at Tsomo Magistrate’s court today each facing a charge of murder.”

Task force applauded

Tonjeni said that the task team had received high praise from Eastern Cape Provincial police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga, particularly for the swift manner in which they went about their duties. 

“Now we have arrested three suspects, let the full might of the law take its course. We are full of appreciation for the support received from the members of the community. Your support was instrumental in this breakthrough,” said Ntshinga.

The coming of age ceremony has this season has seen 10 young initiates lose their lives, with the reason for their deaths “unknown”, according to Traditional Affairs Department spokesperson Mamnkeli Ngam.