Fourth accused abandons bail in Monswamy family massacre case

Tempeli Michael Mchunu (23), the fourth accused in the April 21 Monswamy family massacre, abandoned his bail application in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court this morning (June 25).

Mchunu made his first court appearance after handing himself over to police at Durban Central police station on Tuesday afternoon.

Like his co-accused, Linda Blessing Mthiyane (28), Bongumenzi Mpungose (27) and Mthandeni Luyanda Mthiyane (21), Mchunu faces charges of housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery with aggravating circumstances, seven counts of murder and seven counts of kidnapping. Mpungose also faces an additional charge of rape, while Luyanda Mthiyane has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.

The State alleges that on April 21, the quartet kidnapped Mariamma Appanah (83), Mooniamma Monswamy (78), Cliffy Padayachee (50), Alan Monswamy (54), Sandy Monswamy (56), Kraidon Monswamy (27) and Shamarie Monswamy (20) from their Newark home before killing them. Their bodies were discovered several days later, nearly 200km away in Melmoth.

Mchunu stepped into the dock wearing black tracksuit pants, a red T-shirt and a light grey tracksuit top that was torn at the neck. He kept his head bowed throughout proceedings and mumbled his responses in a barely audible voice.

He applied for Legal Aid. The State opposed bail, but Mchunu abandoned his bail application and was remanded in custody. His case has been joindered with that of Mpungose and the Mthiyane cousins, and all four accused are expected to appear in court again on July 31.

It is understood that Mchunu handed himself over out of fear following widespread calls on social media for the accused to be necklaced – a brutal form of extrajudicial execution that emerged in South Africa during the 1980s and involves placing a petrol-filled tyre around a victim before setting it alight.