Nwabisa Nkazana, mother of a four-year-old boy who went missing for about 30 days and later found dead, will make an appearance before the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court on December 6.
Nkazana and her roommate Thandazile Shushu are the main suspects behind the murder of Terminator Miyelani Khoza, Nkazana’s child.
They were granted bail on October 31.
Also read:
- BREAKING NEWS: Mother arrested after child’s body was found in boot
- Bring back the death penalty: Mother in court after child’s death
- Mother accused of killing her baby gets bail
Nkazana wept in the packed courtroom after they were both granted R1 000 bail each. Some community members seemed angry by the court’s decision.
According to court documents, Nkazana’s son reportedly went missing on August 12, 2019, and she told the police she had last seen him playing outside their shack when he disappeared.
An affidavit by the investigating officer stated that community members of the Madelakufa Section became suspicious of her when, days after the boy’s disappearance, she allegedly continued with her life as if nothing had happened.
Some community members claimed that she was partying and didn’t seem bothered about her son’s disappearance.
A month after the boy’s disappearance, the community called a meeting, suggesting that every shack in the informal settlement be searched and a day before the search was to be conducted, the boy’s decomposing body was found in a neighbour’s disused vehicle.
Nkazana, Shushu and another roommate of theirs were informed of the discovery of Terminator’s body on that day as they arrived at the police station where Nkazana had intended to apply for a protection order against a community member who was allegedly accusing her of knowing of her son’s whereabouts.
A key witness claimed the boy’s eyes had been gouged out and some of his teeth ripped out and suspects the boy might had been murdered for these body parts.
On October 3, 2019, days after the boy’s funeral paid for by his father, community members became more suspicious of the women’s involvement in the boy’s death as Shushu was seen packing, reportedly trying to vacate the rented premises.
The police were called and Shushu and Nkanzana were arrested.
Initially, the state had opposed bail of the two suspects arguing that they would be killed by the outraged community, but the court decided otherwise citing that there were several factors that had influenced the court’s decision to grant bail.
The Magistrate argued that the state had no strong evidence that suggested that the two women could be flight risks or tamper with the trial.
She also said public outrage was taken into consideration, but the public needed to be educated that being granted bail did not indicate that the accused were seen to be innocent.
Advocate Sizwe Gozo, who represented both women, welcomed the ruling, saying the state’s case was weak as it was solely based on hearsay evidence.
This case has since generated much public interest, resulting in the court room being fully packed each time the suspects make an appearance.
Political parties such as the African Trans Movement have also been keeping a closer eye on the case and have even called for the return of the death penalty for domestic violence offenders.
