Families of the Lusikisiki massacre victims worried about delays caused by recent developments in case

LUSIKISIKI - The families of the Lusikisiki massacre victims said they were worried about delays caused by recent developments in the case.

Trial proceedings were set to continue in the Mthatha High Court sitting in the Lusikisiki Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

However, the matter was postponed to Wednesday due to legal representatives having to go through additional documents.

Six men face 18 murder charges in the matter and an array of others, including conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

When proceedings resumed on Tuesday, the State was expected to lead evidence from its first witness. 

But after submitting an additional document which includes some aspects of the case, accused one, the alleged mastermind behind the hit, Mzukisi Ndamase, said he needed time to go through the document as he was legally representing himself. 

The lawyers representing the other five accused also told the court that they needed time in this regard. 

While the lawyers said they needed only two hours, Judge Richard Brooks postponed the matter to Wednesday, something that David King said the families were not happy about.

"It was the same thing yesterday. New documents were found for them to be given to the attorneys and to the accused. My question is why were they not given yesterday. I am becoming very sceptical now in the sense that who knows tomorrow will not be the same - new documents going to be given to the accused and attorneys, delaying the whole process."

King said the families came to court with so many expectations, hoping that the witness testimony would answer some of their questions.  

The matter will return to court on Wednesday.