Double murder accused makes brief court appearance

Maliwa’s house was searched and a murder weapon and bloodstained clothing were found

A 29-year-old Mqanduli man arrested in connection with the murder of his neighbours will spend a week in custody before applying for bail.

The suspect appeared briefly in the Mqanduli magistrate’s court on Friday and elected to be represented by a Legal Aid SA attorney.

No Legal Aid attorneys were present in court.

He appeared agitated during his brief appearance, constantly glancing at the gallery.

His left eye was red and he had dark circles under his eyes.

His case was postponed to October 6 for his profile and bail application.

The state alleges he stabbed Nothando Bhavu, 56, and slit her throat.

It’s further alleged that he killed three-year-old Achumile, Bhavu’s granddaughter and burnt her body.

He cut a stoic figure in the dock, wearing a black jacket, as the charges were put to him.

He replied that he understood them. The Dispatch reported on Friday that he had been arrested after Bhavu and her granddaughter, Achumile, were found murdered in their Upper Cezu home. Parts of their house were torched.

The woman and the little girl are believed to have been killed on Wednesday night, but the gruesome discovery was not made until 7am on Thursday, when a relative came to visit her.

The half-naked body of Bhavu was lying in a pool of blood near the main door of the tworoomed flat, with injuries to her head.

The toddler was found in her bed, which had been torched.

They were found by Mthobeli Bhavu, the nephew of Nothando Bhavu.

The family of the victims, who said they were shocked by the gruesome murder, demanded justice be done and wanted answers as to why the two had been murdered.

Police said the woman had been dragged into the lounge, where she was allegedly raped and stabbed.

It is further alleged that the suspect then went into the bedroom and suffocated the child to death.

His house was searched and a murder weapon and bloodstained clothing were found.

Provincial commissioner LtGen Nomthetheleli Mene applauded the community’s involvement in working with the police to ensure a swift arrest.

“Community members are central in the fight against crime as they know and see everything that is happening in their communities.

“We cannot allow criminals to dwell among the vulnerable and commit such heinous crimes. One victim raped or killed is one too many.

“Women and children are hurt, raped and murdered by the people they know and trust, therefore we need to work together to make sure they are apprehended,” she said.