Man appears in court for murder of Protea South woman
The suspect faces charges of premeditated murder and defeating the ends of justice for allegedly concealing a body.
Zachariah Nonyane (27) made his first appearance at the Protea Magistrate’s Court on June 3.
He faces charges of premeditated murder and defeating the ends of justice after allegedly concealing a body.
Nonyane was arrested on May 30, following the gruesome discovery by police of the body of his girlfriend, Ithabeleng Motleleng.
Her body was reportedly found wrapped in a carpet and hidden under his bed. The two had been in a relationship for three months.
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During court proceedings, Nonyane was asked whether he intended to apply for bail. He declined, choosing to abandon the application.
The matter was postponed to August 4 for further investigation.
Grieving and outraged residents of Protea South gathered in large numbers outside the courthouse, united in their call for justice.
Speaking to Urban News, Dimpho Lipholo, cousin of the late Motleleng, expressed the family’s anguish and hope for justice.
“As a family, we’re holding on to hope that the justice system won’t fail us. What happened to Ithabeleng has broken us.
“All we want is for the person responsible to be locked away and for justice to be served – not just for Ithabeleng, but for all the victims who didn’t have the strength to speak up and stop him,” she said.
Protea South community leader Walter Mnisi described Ithabeleng’s death as a wake-up call:
“We must work together to create a society where women can live without fear of violence.
“We owe it to Ithabeleng, and to countless other victims of gender-based violence, to demand justice and work toward a safer future for all.”
Mnisi added that this senseless act of violence is a stark reminder of the pervasive issue of gender-based violence and femicide in the country. He called on the government to take meaningful steps to address the crisis.
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“We urge the government to prioritise the fight against GBV and femicide by allocating the necessary resources to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
It’s time for decisive action, not just words. We need policies that will make potential perpetrators think twice before committing such heinous crimes,” Mnisi said.
