ADVOCATE Vuyo Maqetuka is expected to file 174 applications to discharge some cases against his client at Joburg High Court sitting in Palm Ridge, Ekurhuleni, on Wednesday, 21 February.
His client, Sifiso Mkhwanazi (21), is facing six counts of murder, seven counts of rape, six counts of obstructing the administration of justice, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and unauthorised possession of firearms and ammunition.
The charges stem from the discovery of six female bodies at the site of a panel beating workshop in October 2022.
Mkhwanazi allegedly confessed to the murders during a conversation with his father, who is the second key witness.
The state prosecutor, Advocate Leswikane Mashabela, indicated on Monday, 19 February, that the state would oppose the application.
On Monday, 19 February, Detective Sergeant Bongani Mbonambi testified that the sex worker's alleged killer, Sifiso, pretended to be an innocent client when he was with his victim.
Mbonambi argued during his testimony that Mkhwanazi knew what he was doing.
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He said what Mkhwanazi said in his statement and what cops discovered at the crime scene didn't correspond.
Mbonambi said after initially being arrested and released for the first rape case, which was opened against him in 2021, he made a statement in which he said he was furious after being falsely accused.
“In terms of details as to exactly what happened and how it happened, this leaves us with a problem where we come to a different conclusion.
“That shows the accused had planned to kill the victims. Whether he picked them up on the streets and drove to the factory or it was agreed upon up to the point where there was consensual sex, the fact is that the accused knew he had to pay revenge,” said Mbonambi.
“You take this information and go back to what he told his father that he vowed for revenge. The father, Mark Khumalo, was hoping to get the truth that he didn’t do it, but Sifiso confirmed that he did kill the six sex workers,” said Mbonambi.
He said he had to pretend to be an innocent client to get his victims where he wanted them.
“When the sex workers agreed to his request, they didn't know about his ulterior motives,” said Mbonambi.
Mkhwanazi’s lawyer, Maqetuka, said the body of Joyce Moyo, the first woman whose body was found on 9 October, was left in that room to be discovered.
“The accused had numerous opportunities to dispose of the body, but he couldn’t do it.
“The body was discovered in a commonplace, which is closer to the change room,” he said.
Mbonambi said he disagreed with the accused's lawyer.
“The best he could have done was to leave the body outside the room on the floor so that any person who walked first could have found the body,” said Mbonambi.
