The trial of Mandlankosi Galadla will resume in the Kempton Park Regional Court in Ekurhuleni today.

Galadla faces multiple charges, including murder, kidnapping, rape and aggravated robbery, linked to a two-year crime spree in Kempton Park between 2020.

Kempton Express reports that he was arrested on October 28, 2022.

According to court records, Galadla allegedly lured women to open fields where they were murdered and their bodies set alight. The known victims were women aged between 19 and 40.

In 2009, Galadla was sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment for murder and rape. He successfully appealed the conviction, which led to his release.

Forensic evidence presented

In court yesterday, Regional Court Prosecutor Sibongile Nxumalo called Dr Mbalenhle Nkosi, a pathologist, to testify.

Nkosi told the court that she examined the body of one of the victims on September 8, 2022. Information from police indicated that the woman died on September 6.

She described the condition of the body, noting a scalp fracture, brain injuries, bruising around the eye, and burn wounds.

“If someone has no injuries or illness, even if they fall, they would not sustain a scalp fracture,” Nkosi explained.

Nkosi further testified that it was not always possible to determine when burn injuries occurred.

However, in this case, she concluded the victim was burned after death because the fracture showed signs of bleeding, while the burn wounds did not.

Witness testimony

The court then heard from a neighbour of the deceased, Modiegi (not her real name).

She testified that she knew Galadla, who often walked past her home carrying a laptop. She said he would sometimes speak about employment opportunities and had previously told her that certain jobs required a R300 ‘training fee’, after which candidates would be hired as chefs and given certificates.

According to her testimony, the deceased confided that she had spoken to Galadla and he had asked her for R300 to secure employment.

On September 17, 2022, the deceased told her neighbour that Galadla had promised jobs would be available the following week.

A few days later, the deceased again told Modiegi that Galadla had come to her home, saying she would soon start a nightshift job. The deceased asked her neighbour to look after her child and gave her house keys before leaving to meet Galadla at Swazi-Inn. She never returned.

When questioned by Modiegi about the deceased’s whereabouts, Galadla allegedly dismissed her, saying: “Why would you ask me? She’s your friend, go and check on her.”

Later, Modiegi said she received a call from an unknown woman claiming the deceased was undergoing training, during which phones were not allowed, and that she would return at the end of the month.

Suspicious, Modiegi and others reported the matter to police.

Defence’s response

Galadla’s lawyer Obed Lewete told the court that his client denied ever offering people jobs. Instead, he claimed the deceased owed him money for meaty bones she had taken on credit.

He further argued that Galadla occasionally bought fat cakes from Modiegi and insisted his client never promised her or the deceased employment.

Modiegi denied knowing about the alleged meaty bones business, saying this was the first time she had heard of it.

The trial was postponed to today.

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