THERE was high police presence at the Protea Glen Magistrates Court, in Soweto, on Friday, 1 March when a suspect made her first appearance in connection with the suitcase murder of Keeya Mbulawa (4).
Nonhle Matsebula, who is a eSwatini national, faces kidnapping and murder charges.
This after she allegedly kidnapped, poisoned, strangled and stuffed Keeya in a suitcase in January at Protea Glen extension 1 and tried to flee with her.
During her appearance, magistrate Mhango informed the accused that she was facing two counts. The first count being murder/premeditated murder and the second being kidnapping.
Mhango informed the accused that she has the right to a Legal Aid representative. The accused asked for a Legal Aid representative who will help her going forward.
The case was postponed to 19 April for further investigation and for the Legal Aid board's instructions. The accused will remain in custody.
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Family spokesman, Advocate Miller Moela said the matter has been postponed because several things are still outstanding.
“They need to verify her status in South Africa and her correct identity because there are doubts as to whether the names she gave were proper, or not," said Moela.
He said the family was grateful that the suspect was apprehended and appearing before court.
“It's not easy for the family, especially the mother, to meet face-to-face with her daughter's child's killer. Somebody she had known for over two years and lived with in the same homestead. Somebody you regarded as an aunt to your children, and you even ask her to take care of your child,” Moela said.
Though the motive behind the accused's actions remains unclear, Moela said when Keeya’s body fell out of the suitcase, she was almost dead.
“She had a sock stuffed in her mouth, a cable tie fastened tightly around her neck and was kept in that bag for not less than 30 minutes zipped and couldn’t breathe for those 30 minutes,” he said.
Moela concluded that through investigations, the family believes they will be able to get to the root of the issue and know what really happened.
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