11 August 2026
Photos of people killed in a mass shooting in Marikana informal settlement were displayed at a memorial service held at the end of January. Archive photo: Sandiso Phaliso
Two suspects in the mass murder of eight people in Philippi, Cape Town, in January made a virtual appearance in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The prosecutor requested the case be postponed to 25 August to allow the state more time to complete its investigation.
The state alleges that the two suspects, Nkcubeko Libala and Bheki Manxiwa, entered a shebeen in Marikana informal settlement in Phillippi East on 17 January and opened fire on the patrons, killing eight people, including the shebeen owner, and injuring two people.
The pair are charged with eight counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder, according to the prosecutor.
The court heard that due to the nature of the charges and murders, the state needed time.
Before he granted the postponement, Le Keur warned the state that this would be the last time he allows a postponement for further investigation.
Magistrate Keith le Keur also asked the suspects whether “there was anything to report from Pollsmoor” prison. They responded that all was in order and that they were fine.
Manxiwa was arrested a week after the shooting and Libala was arrested on 20 February. The police previously said it was looking for a third suspect who is still at large.
The police also previously confirmed to GroundUp that the mass murder was extortion related.
Community groups have called for urgent action against the ongoing violence after another deadly weekend. Police said it is investigating three shooting incidents which claimed 11 lives on Saturday, 8 August, including the mass murder of five in Langa, three in Khayelitsha, and three in Gugulethu.
