Alleged killer of Matwetwe lead movie actor positively identified

The Swahili-speaking man accused of killing lead Matwetwe movie actor Sibusiso Khwinana was identified at an identity parade held on Friday before his court appearance, Rekord North reports.

The man was identified by numerous witnesses and is expected to reappear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 11 July.

The prosecution said they still needed to investigate the outstanding post-mortem report, cellphone records and a photo album. Once the investigations have been finalised, the man will be indicted and his trial will begin at the Pretoria high court after his appearance.

The man faces charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and contravention of the immigrant’s act.

During his previous court appearance, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Louw applied for the media to be prohibited from publishing his image and name.

Khwinana was stabbed to death in a scuffle after he was robbed of his phone at the beginning of March.

It was understood the 25-year-old actor and his friend were accosted by a trio of men shortly after they exited the Sterland mall, where the movie was being screened.

News of the 35-year-old man’s arrest was made public by police minister Bheki Cele during the actor’s funeral service in Soshanguve.

In the days leading to Khwinana’s funeral, Gauteng premier David Makhura told his family and the media that the three men believed to have been involved in the gruesome crime had been identified.