A 26-year-old man arrested in connection with a mass shooting in Pietermaritzburg that claimed 10 lives in the same family will reappear in court next Friday for a formal bail hearing.

He made his first appearance at the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court this morning.

Deon Thabo Warren Mathonsi (26) is facing 15 charges relating to attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and murder.

The accused also has one pending case against him at the Howick Magistrate’s Court relating to possession of ammunition.

Mathonsi related through his attorney that he was allegedly assaulted by the police following his arrest. He said he had blood on his pants from the alleged assault.

His pants will be taken in for testing to determine if it is his blood or that of the victims.

Mathonsi and another suspect were arrested on Friday after a gang of four hitmen stormed the Memela family home.

The police responded to a tip-off, leading them to a place one kilometer away from the crime scene, where four suspects were found participating in a cleansing ritual.

The suspects opened fire upon seeing the police, and a shootout ensued.

One suspect was killed during the shootout and has been identified by SAPS as a notorious criminal wanted for many crimes around Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

The fourth suspect managed to flee.