Mayors march against the killing of people with albinism
The Executive Mayor of the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, Bagudi Tolo, together with the Mayor of eEmalahleni, Linah Malatjie, led a march against the killing of people with Albinism.
The marchers walked from the municipal grounds to the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court where the trial of the four men who allegedly killed a 13-year-old girl living with albinism and her one-year-old cousin is currently under way.
Thokozani Msibi, a traditional healer, Brilliant Mkhize, Themba Thobela and Knowledge Mhlanga, appeared on charges of murder before the High Court Division sitting in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The men allegedly entered the home of Gabisile Shabani (13) and her one-year-old cousin Nkosikhona Ngwenya (15-month old) in Emalahleni in 2018 and kidnapped the two children.
Gabisile’s mutilated body was found in a shallow grave in Cullinan east of Pretoria and Nkosikhona’s body was found on the side of the N4.
Msibi, Mkhize and Mhlanga are all pleading not guilty to the eight charges against them while Thobela pleaded guilty to all seven charges he is facing. The court opted to separate the case since the three other accused pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Msibi, Mkhize and Mhlanga will be held on 25 May 2020 while Thobela’s trial will proceed tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.
The four will be remanded in custody till their trial.
