A Philippi man, 20-year-old Lolwethu Mzilikazi, was arrested for five fatal shooting incidents in Philippi East in October 2022.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Novela Potelwa said Serious Violence Crimes (SVC) detectives have been looking for the suspect ever since the bloody night which saw five people being killed at three crime scenes.
She said all five murders occurred in one evening in October 2022 in Phillipi East.
On Tuesday 07 March, police made a breakthrough and arrested Mzilikazi as the suspect.
He appeared in Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning.
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National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said Mzilikazi is facing five counts of murder.
“Lolwethu Mzilikazi, 20, appeared at the Athlone Magistrates Court this morning charged with five counts of murder, illegal possession of two firearms and illegal possession of ammunition. His case was postponed until 23 April 2023 for further investigation and forum,” he said.
“The investigation into the murders, which occurred in three crime scenes in the same vicinity and left five people dead, saw the SVC detectives conducting a search and seizure operation at an address in Phillipi East where they confiscated two firearms. The firearms were subsequently sent for ballistics testing,” she said.
Potelwa said further investigations are looking into whether the suspect can be linked to other murders.
