The families of two elderly women whose bodies were discovered in a shallow grave at the crèche where they both worked in Umgababa are confident that the police investigation will reveal why their loved ones’ lives ended in such a brutal way.

The man arrested in connection with the murder made his first appearance in the Umbumbulu Magistrate’s Court today.

The accused, who is yet to be named, was arrested on Friday after the bodies of Zanele Doris Mbuso (62) and Monica Xulu (70) were found in a shallow grave at Ethembeni Créche in Umgababa, where they both worked, on Thursday evening.

The accused was employed as a security guard at the same crèche.

Mbuso and Xulu went missing on Women’s Day, August 9, after returning from shopping in preparation for an event that would take place the following day.

Speaking on behalf of the deceased’s families, Dawn Gounden of Renegades Search and Rescue says the Umkomaas SAPS detective unit and the SAPS Ethekwini District Task Team worked tirelessly, leading to a breakthrough.

“The K9 and its handler located a shallow grave where both bodies were found. The family cannot believe that this heinous and brutal crime could be carried out by one person. They have much faith in the police to get more information through their investigation so that justice can prevail,” says Gounden.

The late Mbuso worked for Gounden’s family as a carer and resigned at the beginning of this year to work closer to home at the crèche.