Community protests in Bethal as court postpones eMzinoni murder case

The eMzinoni community, Bethal Women Forum and health workers picketed outside the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on September 8, demanding that bail be denied to 29-year-old Tsepo Mokoena, who is facing charges of murder, robbery and kidnapping in connection with the death of Bongani Mlambo (42), a health worker attached to eMzinoni clinic.

Mokoena was expected to apply for bail, but the proceedings were postponed to September 15 after his Legal Aid attorney told the court that he was not ready to proceed with the application.

The attorney said he needed to consult with his office regarding a new attorney who would take over Mokoena’s bail application, while the State indicated that it was ready to proceed as it opposed Mokoena’s release on bail.

Mokoena’s arrest followed the discovery of Mlambo’s body along the R35 road to Middelburg on August 31, several days after he was reported missing. Mlambo was last known to have been at his residence in Milan Park, eMzinoni, between August 25 and 26.

According to eMzinoni police, Mlambo’s colleagues became concerned after he failed to report for duty and could not be reached by phone. One of his colleagues went to his residence to check on his whereabouts and found both gates locked.

After gaining access to the property, the colleague discovered signs that the garage door had been tampered with.

Mlambo was nowhere to be found and his vehicle was also missing. A vehicle-tracking company later located the vehicle in Middelburg.

Mlambo’s family members, who attended the court proceedings, said they were still struggling to come to terms with his death.

His younger brother, Nhlakanipho Mlambo, said the family welcomed the arrest but remained traumatised by the condition in which Bongani’s body was found.

“As a family, when we went to identify my brother after his body was discovered, we were shocked by its condition because it had started to decompose,” said Mlambo. “Our question is where it was kept after his disappearance.”

He asked what happened to Bongani before he was killed.

“Was he murdered before his car was taken, or was he murdered after his car was taken to Middelburg?”

Mlambo said the family wanted the suspect to tell the court the reason behind the murder, noting that his brother had injuries to his head and face.

Mlambo said what was most shocking was that his brother’s cellphone was found in Trichardt. Outside the court, community members and various organisations called on the court not to grant Mokoena bail, saying they wanted justice for Mlambo and his family.

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