THE murder trial against two Mpumalanga sisters and their co-accused has been postponed yet again.
Nonhlanhla Mthunywa (33) and Bathabile Mthunywa (42), as well as Ntombizodwa Ndwandwa (44) and Steen Mashikeng (45), briefly appeared in the Mbombela High Court on Wednesday, 24 January.
The four face a series of charges, including murder, rape, conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, theft, fraud and defeating the ends of justice.
The charges arise from an incident that occurred in January 2020. It's alleged that the two sisters, Nonhlanhla and Bathabile, invited their mother, Wanter Dlamini (62), to Nonhlanhla's house and conspired to kill her to claim an R80 000 insurance policy that was taken in Wanter's name in 2019.
It's alleged that Ndwandwa, Mashikeng and Moses Mosemba (41), who has since died, allegedly assaulted and kidnapped her.
Mashikeng and Ndwandwa allegedly gang-raped her while Nonhlanhla and Ndwandwa held her down.
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Wanter was later killed, and her body was allegedly disposed of by Bathabile and was found dumped in the bushes near an abattoir a few days later.
On Wednesday, 24 January, the defence lawyer for accused four, Bathabile, requested more time to consult with her client. This is after she terminated the services of her legal representative.
Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Monica Nyuswa said the state was ready to proceed with the trial. However, the prosecution could not proceed without accused number four having a legal representative.
The matter was postponed to Monday, 29 January, for the continuation of the trial.
