THE trial of Thabo Ntokozo Theodore Nzimande (32), who is in the dock for the alleged murder and decapitation of his 80-year-old grandmother, resumed in the Durban High Court on Tuesday, March 31.

Nzimande, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Beata Beatrice de Lange, was due to take the witness stand on Tuesday.

The court previously heard that according to Nzimande, on the night of the murder, he had smoked cannabis and overdosed on prescription pills before passing out, and is unaware of what had happened to his grandmother, and in the granny flat, which was found bloodied and in disarray by the first police officers at the scene of the murder.

“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 not guilty plea statement.

According to witness testimony heard in court, Nzimande allegedly stabbed his grandmother multiple times, decapitated her, and kicked her head afterwards, and had allegedly said that his “ancestors” had told him to commit the gruesome crime “so that he could be saved”.

Nzimande’s uncle, John Ngcobo, previously testified that the accused had allegedly said deceased relatives had, through a dream, instructed him, Nzimande, to either commit suicide or murder his uncle or the grandmother.

The court has heard testimony from the investigating officer (OI), Detective Sergeant Noelin Chetty of the Pinetown SAPS, that this is “a very unusual case”.

Through his defence attorney, Emmanuel Chiliza, Nzimande has denied testimony from Chetty that he had said he was not a success in life because his deceased grandmother had failed to perform certain rituals for him, but agreed he had said voices had told him he knew what to do.

Also read: Pinetown murder case moved to regional court

The court heard from Chetty that Nzimande had allegedly made these utterances en route to Fort Napier Hospital in 2024, where, as per a court order, he was to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

The court also heard from Chetty that he had interviewed Nzimande a day after De Lange’s murder in police holding cells and that at the time, Nzimande was still in bloodstained clothes.

De Lange was murdered on June 7, 2024, in the Pinetown property of Nzimande’s uncle, Ngcobo.

The defence has argued that the State is trying to paint a picture that there were problems between De Lange and Nzimande.

The court has heard from Ngcobo, and his son, Zwelethu, the accused’s cousin, that the relationship between the grandson in the dock and De Lange had soured towards the end of her life.

The court also heard from the uncle that Nzimande’s troublesome ways, which allegedly included stealing from relatives and excessive alcohol consumption, and the taking of drugs, had caused a rift within the family, with De Lange on the side that supported the accused’s rehabilitation journey.

Nzimande has also disputed testimony by a State witness that at the time of his arrest he had allegedly shouted that his ancestors had “instructed” him to commit the gruesome murder.

For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter here