The family of the five people who were stabbed to death in the Bethany area of Bergville in KZN have expressed satisfaction that the accused, Mlamuli Khoza, opted to abandon his bail application.

Khoza appeared in the Bergville Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old from Bergville is accused of brutally stabbing seven of his family members and killing five of them on Saturday, October 12.

The mother of the accused, who survived the incident, has since been discharged from hospital.

Khoza will remain in custody until November 21, when he will appear in court again.

During the court proceedings on Wednesday, Khoza’s lawyer, Thabani Mazibuko, told the magistrate that his client would not be applying for bail. No reasons were given for the decision.

The five victims of the bloodthirsty knife attack were laid to rest last Saturday in Bethany.