The bail bid by Zama Williams, one of the three murder accused in a Vanderbijlpark couple’s horrific case, was denied.

This is after the preceding magistrate, Magwaile Mashabela, detailed the judgment on Tuesday.

Williams, an ex-lover to slain Kiwiet Mokoena, and her co-accused Sandile Khumalo (32) and Shakespeare Sibanda (32) appeared briefly in the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court this week.

Accused one and two abandoned their bail applications, while the attorney of accused number three (Williams), Matome Madupela, fought for her freedom without luck.

The case dates back to December 2022 when the trio was arrested following the recovery of the bodies of missing couple Nokuphila Dladla and Mokoena, who were found in an open field in Heidelberg, Gauteng.

Mokoena was last seen on December 14, 2022 when he bought food for Dladla.

A concerned colleague raised the alarm the next day after Mokoena missed his shift at work. The colleague went to look for him at his house, but he and his girlfriend were not there. They were presumed to have been kidnapped and police investigations ensued, subsequently resulting in three arrests.

Addressing a packed courtroom, Mashabela said: “This court does not believe that the accused should be granted bail, and it must also be stated that the applicant previously supplied false information to the police when she claimed not to have any information on the missing, now deceased, couple, but was later found involved in their murder and the sale of their vehicle. This court is not satisfied that the applicant is suitable to be released on bail.”

Aubrey Matselane, the cousin of Mokoena, said they hope for more pleasing results as the case moves to trial.

“We are happy with the court’s decision to deny Zama bail. The case has dragged on for a very long time, with many postponements. We welcome the magistrate’s decision and hope that Zama gets what she deserves. What she did was very brutal, she deserves to rot in jail,” she added.