Family pleased that daughter’s killer has been caught

The Maduna family welcomes the arrest of a man who is accused of killing their daughter Mbali Hlongwane.
This is after police found and arrested him in Cape Town on November 4, 2022.

Hlongwane was a first-year student studying information technology at Ekurhuleni West College. She was stabbed and killed during broad daylight, outside the EWC campus on October 21, 2021.

Since the murder, it has been a difficult period for the family, parents Vusi Maduna (46) and Zanele Maduna (42) and her two siblings as well as her five-year-old daughter.

Vusi said they had to push for the investigating officer to be changed as the case was making no progress.
It took police 379 days to trace and arrest the suspect, a period the family described as frustrating.

“It was frustrating because there were details of the suspect at the school but every time we spoke to the police they said they cannot find him,” said Vusi.

“What was more frustrating was that the suspect was active on Facebook, threatening the witnesses, even Mbali’s cousin who Kathorus MAIL spoke to during an interview.

“He was active online and we were constantly giving that information to the Gauteng provincial SAPS. I think they (provincial SAPS) also made promises that they cannot keep because at some stage we were told that since he was active they will use their grabber team to get the exact location but it never happened.”

He said the new IO took less than six months to find the suspect.

The couple said they received a call on November 5 from the investigating officer informing them that he found the suspect in Cape Town

“At the time we were told about the arrest, we had mixed emotions, to be honest because we did not know whether to be happy or sad. But it was a relief that at least he was finally arrested,”

He said that after receiving the news, he could not sleep for the entire two days as he was eager to see him with his own eyes.

“Sometimes when a person tells you something, you cannot be sure if he is serious or what. I wanted to see the guy myself. I even thought of going to Ramokonopi SAPS because the IO told me he is detained there.”

The family said they want is justice for their daughter citing that the accused did not even show remorse during his first appearance at Palm Ridge Court.

“I did not speak to him but the body language says a lot, you can see he does not care. Maybe he thought he had gotten away with it. For him, it was life as normal. He was surprised when police told him that they are from Johannesburg and explained their reason for coming.”

Although the family went through trauma therapy, they remain cautious when their children go to school.

“The fear is still there because we have a 16-year-old who is badly affected by this murder because they were like twins.

“There was a stage where we got calls from her school to caution us that she has suicidal thoughts, so you can imagine the trauma it caused for us. But I think she is okay now, she is still attending therapy sessions.”

He called on parents to know what their children are doing, as well as children to be honest with their parents.
Zanele described Hlongwane as a people person with a bubbly personality.

“She loved laughing, fashion and going out with friends, she was the kind of person who enjoyed doing everyone’s nails and make-up.”

To date, the family is still waiting for a report from EWC. They said they were informed that the principal was not available at the time of the incident, however, even after the principal’s return the report was not provided to the family.

The media liaison officer of Katlehong North SAPS, Sergeant Sibusiso Mazibuko, confirmed that the accused is still in police custody.

He is expected to appear at Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on January 24.