SIKHUMBUZO Zungu, who was arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing the mother of his child, Babongile Nkonyeni, is due back at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on March 17.

After Zungu was refused bail late last year, his next court appearance was set for January 29. However, he could not appear at the court last week and the matter was postponed.

Meanwhile, the court previously heard that Zungu intends to plead guilty to Nkonyeni’s murder which was committed on Sunday, October 26 at about 03:00. Zungu was arrested two days later.

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He faces an additional charge of theft because at the time of his arrest, he was allegedly found in possession of two cellphones belonging to Nkonyeni.

Refusing his bail, the presiding officer had said it was not certain that Zungu would attend court if his application was granted, considering that after Nkonyeni’s murder he had thought of committing suicide.

During Zungu’s bail application, Nkonyeni’s sister, Phumla Shezi, whom the presiding officer later described as a credible witness, had testified that Zungu had not consistently financially supported the eight-year-old child he has with the deceased, who was said to have shouldered many of their living costs.

Bail denied for Zungu

The court also heard from Shezi that Zungu and his daughter did not have a cordial relationship.

Nkonyeni’s mother, Sibongile Shezi, has previously said that she learnt that the relationship between her daughter and Zungu was strained but would not speculate on whether that was the cause of the murder.

Zungu being denied bail was welcome relief for Nkonyeni’s family who said at the time of the ruling that “this is what we wanted”.

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