MBOMBELA – The case against five men accused of the kidnapping and murder of Lutricia Nkentjane (3) continues to be volatile. Policemen and employees from the Department of Justice were deployed to keep a watchful eye on a rowdy mob gathered in front of the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. They had travelled from Tonga for the second time this week to attend the bail hearing of two sangomas who allegedly abducted and killed the child.
Inside the Nelspruit Regional courtroom, two court orderlies were replaced by six men in uniform. These measures were implemented to control the raging crowd that had caused havoc, expressing a demand for justice, since last November.
The victim, Nkentjane from Mgobodzi, went missing in that month. According to community members, she went to gather wood and never returned home.
Locals suspected that a member of the public had something to do with her disappearance. They had apparently arrested him and given him a beating before the SAPS warned them not to take the law into their own hands.
On November 30 the police arrested another man – Mr Jabulani Ndlovu. He was charged with the kidnapping and murder of Nkentjane alongside Messrs Mabethela Louis Sithole, Sfiso Mazike and Themba Mnyambo in January. A fifth accused, Mr Bongani Ngomane, has also subsequently been charged.
During the accused’s prior court appearance in Tonga on January 14, the police had their hands full when the masses attacked defence advocate, Mr Nico du Plessis. Lowvelder reported that they mauled him to the ground, dragged him by his tie and assaulted him. They were furious at him for defending two of the accused, Ndlovu and Mnyambo.
The bail hearing of these two commenced on Friday in the Nelspruit Regional Court. More than 100 residents from Mawewe, the area where Nkentjane used to live, travelled to court in taxis and danced and sang in front of the court building from 09:00 to 16:00.
A man called Solomon was standing in the middle of the circle they had formed, swinging a sjambok. A woman who did not want to be named, said the threat of another assault on Du Plessis remained. “We saw him escaping court using a side door. He must better do that.
During the bail hearing that continued on Wednesday it was confirmed that both Ndlovu and Mnyambo were traditional healers. The latter said he was a priest, too. It was alleged that the girl was taken to Ndlovu’s home after her kidnapping. This was reportedly corroborated by pointings out made to the police by Ngomane and Mazike.
Community members further alleged they killed the girl and used her body for traditional muthi purposes.
Both accused denied being involved in her disappearance.
Meanwhile, Solomon and the crowd gathered in front of the building again on Wednesday.
They had brought litres of marula beer with them. By late afternoon, a number of them had to sit down as they kept losing their balance. When it was announced that the case would be postponed to yesterday, they were deeply disappointed.
Ms Ncenekile Lkatshwa addressed Lowvelder. “We were transported here in 17 taxis. We had to pay R1 300 per taxi and have to pay the same amount to return home. We refuse and will sleep right here tonight.”
The city’s police spokesman, Capt Dawie Pretorius, reported that Wednesday evening’s sleepover must have been a peaceful one, as no irregularities were reported. At the time of going to print, the bail hearing was ongoing.
