Three plead guilty to eMbalenhle man’s murder
Khawulezile Nono, Aphiwe Mje, and Bongumusa Gojela are facing murder charges after the mob justice death of Abram Masiteng.
Three men, Khawulezile Nono, Aphiwe Mje, and Bongumusa Gojela, pleaded guilty to the murder of 24-year-old Abram Masiteng during their bail hearing at the Evander Magistrate’s Court on March 10.
Following the discovery of Masiteng’s tied-up body in eMbalenhle’s Ext 21 river on February 15, the three were apprehended and formally charged.
The murder followed accusations that Masiteng had stolen a television and a cellphone. According to police reports, authorities received a complaint that day about an act of mob justice in Ext 21.
Masiteng was allegedly dragged to a kraal near the Wellas River before being thrown into the water. Public order police were dispatched and they launched a search operation.
Initially, officers could not locate Masiteng, but the search continued into the night. Eventually, they spotted a human leg protruding from the water near the riverbank.
With assistance from a Jelani Security officer, police retrieved the body, which was found naked, covered in bruises, and tightly bound with a rope around his private parts and neck.
Masiteng was later identified by a family member, and an investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects. During the bail hearing, investigating officer Constable Pieter Ramutla opposed the suspects’ release on bail, citing safety concerns because of community outrage.
He said the eMbalenhle community opposed bail, having submitted a petition to prevent the accused’s release.
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Mje’s family had to be rescued by police after an angry crowd demanded to know the whereabouts of the deceased’s private parts, following rumours it had been removed.
Mje’s wife and children have since fled to the Eastern Cape for their safety. Gojela’s shack in Marikana Section (Ext 22) was burned down by community members in protest after the incident.
Ramutla further testified that although the accused provided alternative addresses in Limpopo, he questioned their ability to attend court proceedings as they were unemployed.
The bail hearing was postponed to March 14 for the court to consider the evidence and the safety concerns raised by the community. On this day, the trio was denied bail. They are set to appear in court again on May 2.
