A man out on parole for rape and housebreaking has been accused of a gruesome murder in Raisethorpe, Pietermaritzburg, where the body of Lucky Phakathi was found with a severed leg and a gouged eye.

The Witness reports that parolee Siphesihle Zuma is expected to appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court today as the matter moves to the regional court for trial.

Body found in early hours

According to police, Phakathi’s left leg was hacked off, his ear cut off and his right eye gouged out, allegedly by Zuma.

Mountain Rise SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Panchael Singh says police were called to the scene around 01:30 after receiving a report of an assault.

“When police arrived, they met a woman who directed them to the scene. Police found the body of a man, identified as Lucky Phakathi.

“Half of his left leg had been severed, his right eye was gouged out and he had multiple cuts and bruises all over his body,” Singh says.

Phakathi was declared dead at the scene.

Parole background

In his March court appearance, Zuma confirmed that he was out on parole, after being convicted and sentenced to 11 years for housebreaking and rape in 2014.

He was due to remain on parole until 2026.

Family devastated

Speaking to The Witness at the mortuary, Phakathi’s family said they were devastated to learn not only that their son had been killed but also that his body had been mutilated.

Phakathi’s mother, Dumisile, said he was her only son and her pillar of support. She now faces the burden of caring for his four children without him.

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