Mchunu says Lusikisiki mass shooting orchestrated behind bars

CAPE TOWN - Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says the mastermind behind the Lusikisiki massacre ordered the killings from inside prison.

Mchunu made the revelation during the police portfolio committee on Wednesday, where he presented the annual reports of police entities like the DNA board and civilian secretariat for police.

Mchunu also noted how one of those arrested is a parolee, saying parole should not be a gateway back to criminality.

The minister said it didn’t take long to arrest some suspects after publishing their pictures and names.

READ: Police arrest 4 more suspects in connection with Lusikisiki massacre

However, what is of serious concern to Mchunu is how the massacre of the 18 people was orchestrated from behind bars.

“The shock that is going to visit us as South Africans once more is that somebody sitting in prison could actually coordinate these murders to the tune of 18.”

Mchunu said he’s since met with Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald to address this.

“We must try to do something about this as a matter of urgency. This was before even this massacre.”

Mchunu said there's also a need to scrutinise the parole system because one of the main suspects is a parolee.