THE Pinetown man accused of stabbing his grandmother multiple times, decapitating her, and kicking her head afterwards, had allegedly said that his “ancestors” had told him to commit the gruesome crime “so that he could be saved”.

This was heard in the Durban High Court on Monday, September 8, as State witness, Constable Nobuhle Stephanie Chili, took the witness stand at the commencement of the trial of Thabo Ntokozo Theodore Nzimande (32), who pleaded not guilty to the June 7, 2024 murder of his 80-year-old grandmother, Beata Beatrice de Lange.

The court heard that Chili was one of two SAPS officers who were first at the scene of the murder – a granny flat in the Pinetown property of Nzimande’s uncle, John Ngcobo, who also testified that the accused had allegedly said deceased relatives had, through a dream, instructed him to either commit suicide or murder the latter or the grandmother.

Chili described to the court the disarrayed and bloody scene they encountered on the night, with De Lange’s head found in the dining room area of the flat, whilst her decapitated body lay in a pool of blood in her bedroom, with two knives nearby.

She told the court that once they and Ngcobo had gained access to the flat and met Nzimande, the accused, with bloody hands positioned in front of him as if ready to be cuffed, had allegedly asked to be arrested for murdering his grandmother.

Chili testified that once he was in the back of the police van, Nzimande allegedly banged its door and repeatedly shouted that “the ancestors had told him to kill his grandmother, that they had said he had to kill one of his family members that he loved so that he could be saved”.

Also read: Court hears of troubled relationship between gran and her alleged murderer

Under cross-examination by Nzimande’s legal representative, Emmanuel Chiliza, Chili said she and her colleague had not established whether the accused had used drugs on the night or was under the influence of any substance.

In his not guilty plea, Nzimande stated that on the day he had “smoked dagga” and had overdosed on tablets, some of which helped him to sleep, while some were for a skin problem and to ease his depression.

“I do not know what happened in the house and to my grandmother on that night. I woke up, heard a noise outside and saw blue lights. I remember throwing the keys to the police officers and being taken into the police van,” read Nzimande’s plea statement.

Chili was followed by Ngcobo in the witness stand who described in detail how Nzimande had become troublesome, had been supported through three stays at different rehabilitation centres, and how a once good relationship between the accused and the deceased had soured towards the end.

The court heard from Ngcobo that Nzimande, who on the night of the murder had allegedly waved De Lange’s head in front of the witness through a closed glass sliding door, had allegedly said that he “had to do it”.

The matter is set to continue on Monday, September 15.

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