The sounds of women sobbing in the corridors outside Criminal Court 5 of the Mpumalanga High Court could be heard after the postponement of the trial of the alleged serial murderer, Julius Thabiso Mndawe.

He briefly appeared in court on Thursday November 4. Mndawe was arrested on July 14, 2019, after confessing to killing and burying Tokie Tlaka (24), Banele Khoza (15), Felicia Mndlovo (17), Noxolo Mdluli (17) and Nomthandazo Mdluli (19).

With tears flowing down her face, Dorris Mathebula, a mother of one of the victims, told Mpumalanga News that the pain of losing her child was unbearable, and the way the case was going so far was making it even harder. “This man killed my child and now the case is taking too long.

If only the court could give this man to me so that I can talk to him and deal with him myself. It is hard having to go home and my child is not there. I cannot get her image out of my mind. I now only have one child left. He killed my child and she is not coming back,” she explained.

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Mndawe allegedly killed and concealed the bodies of his victims in shallow graves. He showed the police where he had buried the bodies after he had been linked to the death of Tlaka, whom he had allegedly met on Facebook. The five bodies were exhumed from his yard in Numbi near Hazyview in 2019. Since his arrest the accused has appeared in court numerous times.

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The provincial NPA spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, confirmed the postponement. “After the state prosecutor felt the accused’s plea was inconsistent with the case, the defence attorney indicated that she needed time to consult with the accused. All parties agreed and the trial’s starting date was postponed from January 31 to February 11, 2022, for trial.”