Accused in Mudzunga Ramalata murder seeks bail amid outcry
The bail hearing begins for Dakalo Nemangwele, accused of killing Mudzunga Ramalata, as her family and community oppose release amid GBV outrage.
POLOKWANE – The bail application for Dakalo Nemangwele (34), the man accused of the brutal murder of his girlfriend Mudzunga Ramalata (29), started on Friday in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court where the bail hearing was postponed to this week Tuesday.
Ramalata’s body was discovered on January 20, dumped in the bushes along the N1 in Kromdraai in the Free State, with multiple gunshot wounds.
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The incident has sparked national outrage and drew attention to the ongoing scourge of gender-based violence (GBV).
The Ramalata family, through their spokesperson Vhutshilo Ramalata, expressed strong opposition to Nemangwele’s bail application.
“This is not just a murder case, it falls within the broader crisis of GBV that continues to torment communities across the country,” he said.
“All public structures have an interest in seeing justice served – not just for Mudzunga, but for every woman subjected to GBV.”
He further warned that Nemangwele’s release could incite public unrest. “His release will provoke an already outraged community. It will rub salt into the wounds of our family and send a dangerous message to other perpetrators of GBV – that they can walk free even after taking a life.”
Following the murder, Nemangwele is said to have fled initially, but later handed himself over to police in Musina on January 24, nearly a week after the murder.
He was charged with murder alongside two other suspects.
The first suspect, Evans Mundalamo (24) was arrested on January 22 in the Tshamutumbu policing area, found in possession of two unlicensed firearms, including a hunting rifle and ammunition.
He appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court two days later and was remanded in custody until 29 January for further investigations.
A third suspect, Tshilisisanani Mboweni, was also arrested after apparently misleading police by claiming that Nemangwele had borrowed money to cross into Zimbabwe for “spiritual assistance”.
Investigations later revealed that he had allegedly conspired to the murder, and his licensed firearm was seized.
The couple, originally from Hamabila village near Ngalavhani in the Mutale area, had reportedly gone missing and were last seen on January 17, the same day Mudzunga’s body was discovered.
An emotional funeral was held for Mudzunga on February 2 in Dzimauli, Harambuda in the Mutale area.
Read more: Community mourns Vhembe woman murdered in GBV case
Her murder has sent shockwaves through the community.
“This murder has angered the entire community of Mutale. People are grieving, and many are afraid. The justice system must act decisively,” added Vhutshilo.
