A man in South Africa has been accused of murdering 18 relatives at a rural homestead in the southeastern part of the country, according to state prosecutors who announced on Wednesday. The 45-year-old was taken into custody on Monday evening at his residence, according to the police.
Siphosoxolo Myekethe is facing charges of 18 counts of murder and the illegal possession of a firearm, as stated by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Myekethe had previously served time in prison for murder and escaping legal custody, the NPA revealed, and he was on parole when the tragic incident occurred on September 28.
The massacre in the village of Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape province has deeply disturbed the nation, prompting calls for increased police protection.
It is still unclear what motivated the shooting at the gathering for a traditional ceremony, where the victims were fatally shot.
According to South African media, the victims ranged in age from 14 to 64, with fifteen being women and several of them shot in the head.
Previously, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had said that three individuals had been arrested in connection with the killings. Still, it was uncertain if their arrest was linked to the suspect who appeared in court on Wednesday.
In a separate incident, six security guards who were about to start their patrol near a school were shot and killed in another village in the same province on Monday.
South Africa has one of the highest per capita homicide rates in the world, with official figures reporting 6,198 homicides between April and June.
