Baby mama 'killer' back in the dock!
LERATO Sefekedi (45), who is accused of killing his baby mama, Sandra Mabaso, in August 2022, is expected to appear in the Protea Magistrates Court for the second time on Friday, 19 April for a bail hearing.
Sefekedi had been on the run since 2022 and was arrested in Thembisa, Ekurhuleni, on Friday, 12 April 2024.
He allegedly stabbed his baby mama to death before setting her house in Protea Glen, Soweto, alight.
Sandra was with her son, Oratile Mabaso in the bedroom when the incident happened. The little boy succumbed to his injuries in hospital, while his mum was pronounced dead on the scene.
Sefekedi faces two counts of arson and murder.
On his first court appearance, he asked for legal representation. He also informed the court that he had no previous convictions.
ALSO READ: Baby mama 'killer' to remain in prison
Sandra’s family told Daily Sun Sefekedi's arrest has reopened old wounds.
"Seeing him has brought back the pain. It all feels new now, like my sister was murdered yesterday. I hope he rots in jail. He must stay there and never be seen outside again. If it were possible, I'd like him to be handed over to us so we can deal with him ourselves. He'll be in prison and benefit from taxpayers' money. I don’t like that,” said Adelaide Mabaso.
She added that her sister's murder has affected the family negatively.
"Our mum is not coping, at all. We wish he was never released on bail. I wish he had never even come to court. I wish he had been convicted from the start. He hurt us. He took two lives at once. The house was burnt down."
Girl stuffed in suitcase: accused back to face music
NONHLE Matsebula, an Eswatini national, is expected to appear in the Protea Magistrates Court on Friday, 19 April.
The accused is alleged to have kidnapped, poisoned, strangled and stuffed Keeya Mbulawa (4) into a suitcase in Protea Glen Extension 1, Soweto, in January 2024, and attempted to escape with her.
During her first court appearance on Friday, 1 March 2024, Magistrate Mhango informed the accused she faces two counts. The first count is that of murder/premeditated murder and the second, kidnapping.
The court was told the state has to verify her status in South Africa, identity and await post-mortem results.
The case was postponed to Friday, 19 April.
The accused was a tenant at the house where little Keeya stayed.
Family spokesman, Advocate Miller Moela said it had not been easy for the family, especially the mother, to see their daughter's killer face-to-face.
“She had known the accused for over two years and lived with him in the same house. Someone you'd consider an aunt to your children and asked to look after your child,” Moela said.
Although the accused's motive remains unclear, Moela said Keeya was almost dead when her body fell off the suitcase.
“She had a sock stuffed in her mouth, a zip tied tightly around her neck and was kept in the suitcase for no less than 30 minutes, with the zip closed and she couldn't breathe during those 30 minutes,” he said.
'Bursary Swindler's lawyer: His child needs him
FIDELIS Moema (32), who is accused of defrauding a company he worked for of millions, is alleged to have used companies, private individuals and girlfriends to launder money.
He did this by using them to open accounts into which he allegedly paid the money belonging to his former employer, KPMG, under false pretences that he would help them win a tender in some cases. The money was meant to fund underprivileged students at various institutions.
State prosecutor, Valencia Dube made these arguments in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Thursday, 18 April, when Moema appeared with his two co-accused, businessman Trevor Machimane (39) and Lebogang Sigubudu (36), who were linked to the matter for transferring money to Moema.
She explained why the trio shouldn't be released on bail.
Moema, now dubbed "bursary swindler", made a total of 431 unlawful payments into various bank accounts of these individuals between October 2019 and November 2022.
The illegal activities totalled R16,5 million.
“Moema has used many individuals and many bank accounts to access R16,5 million KMPG funds meant for underprivileged students in this country to continue their education.
“Some of the people who were used include ex-girlfriends who opened companies or business accounts and money was laundered into their accounts with the promise that he would help them get jobs,” Dube said.
She argued that the modus operandi was the same for each person who participated in the process and received money. The amount each person received from KPMG determined their share, proving a direct correlation between money and participation.
His lawyer, Advocate Thomas Hlungwani, is aware of the allegations levelled against Moema, but said it is not enough to keep him behind bars for the duration of the proceedings.
ALSO READ: Plot thickens in 'bursary swindler' case
He argued that Moema has a two-year-old child who is financially dependent on him and that the family structure should not be broken while the case is pending.
Before Moema surrendered to police and was arrested on 2 April, Hlungwani said he was employed by Nedbank as a young talent recruitment specialist and earned a salary of R68 471 per month. He owns a property in Bryston worth R6 million and a property in Pretoria worth R8 million.
Nedbank has confirmed, in an affidavit, that Moema was employed on a fixed-term contract from 2 April 2023 to 30 April 2024.
When he took up his position at the bank, the institution realised Moema had lied and claimed that his services had been terminated by KPMG, only to discover that he had been dismissed.
The bank said it had since suspended Moema.
