Man accused of mulitilating his girlfriend appears in court

The man accused of killing his girlfriend and afterwards mutilating her body in what was believed to be a muthi-related attack appeared in the Soshanguve magistrate’s court today.

The case against Collen Manthotsi, accused of murdering his then girlfriend Sebenzile Maphanga, was postponed to 4 February, for address verification and bail application.

Police found Maphanga’s mutilated body in Dubai informal settlement near Soshanguve on 11 October, after she went missing earlier in the month.

“Our investigation suggested that the motive for the killing might be muthi-related,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters.

“Maphanga’s body was burnt and her hands and feet were missing.”

It was alleged that the deceased went outside her house responding to a telephone call from the suspect at the time of her disappearance.

This was the last time she was seen alive.

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The state prosecutor said they could not proceed with the case as those staying at the address which Manthotsi had given to the court said they did not want him staying there.

Manthotsi then suggested an alternative address, but could not give the exact location as he reportedly did not know where the house was located.

The magistrate suggested that Manthotsi be booked into the prison where he has been kept and then be taken to the said address for verification.

Outside the court building, family spokesperson David Nkosi said he was worried that the case has been postponed for bail application “for so long.”

“We have been to the court six times now, but we are still at the bail application stage. We are starting to question how this justice system works. Some of the family members are even giving up now because of all these postponements.”

Nkosi said the family had yet to bury their loved one as the body was still at a government mortuary.

“Her missing parts have still not been found and they are still awaiting DNA results. All these things hurt because we cannot proceed with burying her.”

Last year, Maphanga’s sister Mpumi pleaded with the police to find her sister’s “insides and private parts” because the family insisted they could not bury her the way she was.

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