Duduza – Civil society movements and concerned residents picketed outside the Nigel Magistrate’s Court on Monday pleading to the court to deny bail to the man who allegedly killed heavily pregnant Samantha Zungu.
Zungu was apparently assaulted by her boyfriend and father of her two children on Friday night and was certified dead at Pholosong Hospital.
Duduza police spokesperson Sgt Harry Manaka confirmed that the suspect (33) was out on parole for rape and assaulting his former girlfriend in May.
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It is alleged the suspect accused Samantha of cheating and falling pregnant.
A fight ensued and when a neighbour went to investigate the commotion coming from the house, the suspect told him that there was nothing wrong and he was alone in the house.
He allegedly covered Samantha’s mouth with tape in a bid to prevent her from screaming and continued to assault her.
Manaka said the deceased was assaulted several times on her forehead with a stove poker.
“When he realised that she lost consciousness he called an ambulance and she was rushed to Pholosong Hospital where she was certified dead upon arrival.
“The hospital alerted the police and the suspect was arrested on the spot.
“On further investigation, the Duduza police visited the crime scene and summoned forensic experts who gathered all the evidence pointing to the suspect,” said Manaka.
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The deceased’s mother, Margaret Zungu, said the couple has been together on and off for the past 11 years and have two children, aged two and five.
Through the years, she feared that the suspect would one day kill her daughter.
“We encouraged her to leave him, but they always got back together. I was relieved when I heard that he was sentenced.
“I knew my daughter had another chance to rebuild her life but kept ties when she visited him in prison,” she said.
The angry mother added that she is hoping that the suspect will now be sentenced to life imprisonment.
The matter was postponed to August 25 to await the postmortem report.
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