Thembisa nurse murder case postponed
It is alleged that Mudau arrived at the hospital in a state car with blue lights and parked in the area reserved for the accident and emergency department.
The murder case against former police officer Lucky Mudau, who is accused of murdering nurse assistant Lebogang Monene at Thembisa Hospital, was postponed to July 20.
ALSO READ: Update: Tembisa Hospital temporarily closed after nurse is shot and killed
In early February, Mudau shot and murdered a registered nursing assistant in the hospital’s parking lot.
It is alleged that Mudau arrived at the hospital in a state car with blue lights and parked in the area reserved for the accident and emergency department.
According to Motalatale Modiba from the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) the former police officer reportedly called his partner, who was working at the time, to come to the parking lot.
Upon Monene’s arrival at the lot, he shot her before turning the gun on himself.
The officer was in serious condition and the nurse was declared dead at the scene.
Mudau has since been undergoing rehabilitation at a hospital with police supervision.
At his first court appearance at the Rabasotho Magistrate’s Court in Thembisa, on July 11 Mudau, who was in a wheelchair, was accompanied by the police.
According to Phindi Mjonondwane, a spokesperson for the Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the case was postponed so that the defendant could acquire counsel after showing up in court unrepresented.
ALSO READ: Fatal shooting at the Thembisa Hospital
“He appeared in court on a murder charge and the case was postponed until July 20 to allow the accused to seek legal representation,” said Mjonondwane.
The deceased’s father, Nico Monene, who was present at the court hearing, claimed that he was unfamiliar with the accused and that this was his first encounter with him in a courtroom.
“My first court appearance was the most traumatic event I had ever gone through since it triggered unhealed wounds,” said Monene.
“I was furious when I saw the person who had murdered my daughter.
“Since I didn’t know him, this was my first encounter with him,” he said.
Monene said he hopes the judicial system takes constructive action and his daughter and family receive justice.
Among those in attendance were Monene’s coworkers, POWA, You Are Not Alone (YANA), a GBV organisation, nurses, and the Democratic Nurses Organisation of South Africa (Denosa).
According to POWA social auxiliary worker, Connie Dlamini, the group attended the event with placards to show solidarity for the family and their ardent dedication to the fight against GBV and femicide.
“It was upsetting to watch Lebogang’s kin and her old coworkers going through the ordeal again.
“As POWA, we wish to keep helping her family out,” said Dlamini.
Also follow us on:
