
Sangoma arrested in connection with 2-year-old's murder abandons bail application
JOHANNESBURG - A sangoma arrested in connection with the murder of a two-year-old told the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court that he would be abandoning his bail application. Sebokoane Khoanyana appeared in court on Wednesday, alongside Keneilwe Shalaba, the mother of the deceased two-year-old.
The two face charges of kidnapping and premeditated murder in connection with the child's disappearance. The public gallery in court was packed, with community members calling for justice for the murder of the two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba.
Some in attendance told EWN that they knew Kutlwano's mother personally and were very concerned when, in November last year, she reported that the child had been kidnapped. Days later, she was arrested in connection with his disappearance. She was also questioned about receiving R75,000 on the day her child vanished. Further investigation by police in May linked her to Khoanyana. The sangoma pointed out where Kutlwano was buried in Bekkersdal, and he was arrested.
On Wednesday, Khoanyana informed the court that he would not be applying for bail.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

TimesLIVE
6 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Effective five years in jail for former policeman who sought a bribe
The Nelspruit specialised commercial crimes court has sentenced former police sergeant Enock Remas Mnisi to eight years' imprisonment for corruption. The court on Tuesday suspended three years of the sentence for five years, on condition that Mnisi, 39, is not convicted of a similar offence or extortion during the period of his suspension. This means the effective sentence is five years' direct imprisonment. On November 3 2020, the accused was on duty performing roadblock duties when he stopped a driver who had passengers near Nelspruit. 'Mnisi demanded R20,000 claiming that the complainant was transporting counterfeit goods. The R20,000 was meant to give the complainant the unauthorised privilege of evading arrest or of the impounding of his motor vehicle,' National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said. Mnisi negotiated a reduced amount to an extent that he called the complainant's employer demanding the transfer of money to the complainant's bank account. During this period, the driver and the passengers were kept at the holding cells at Ngodwana police station. 'After the complainant's employer transferred the money, Mnisi took the complainant together with his colleague to the nearest ATM and withdrew R4,800. Upon his return with the money, Mnisi released them.' Mnisi was arrested after the case was reported to the police. 'The senior state advocate, Derrick Mashego, led credible evidence of the complainant, the passengers who testified about how the event unfolded as well as the colleague of the accused who was taken under the pretext that they were going to fix the state vehicle's tyres,' Nyuswa said. The evidence relating to the cash withdrawal was also presented. 'The court found that Mnisi's evidence was not possibly true and he was convicted of corruption.' In mitigation of sentence, the defence argued that the court should consider that Mnisi suffered the most as he lost his employment. It said Mnisi was willing to pay back the money. In aggravation of sentence, Mashego submitted that Mnisi was greedy, gainfully employed as a law enforcement officer and had an obligation to protect the community and abide by the law. The court said the community expected the courts to deal with cases of this nature by imposing harsher sentences and sending a strong message to would-be offenders.

IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Details emerge in Inkosi Zuma's alleged involvement in cousin's killing
Induna Qalokunye Zuma who was allegedly killed by Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma over land dispute Image: Supplied Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma allegedly paid R30,000 as a reward to hitmen for the killing of his cousin Qalokunye Zuma, who was his chief induna, and if convicted on the matter, he will possibly be sentenced to life, said the National Prosecuting Authority. This was revealed by an affidavit compiled by investigating officer Detective Sergeant Innocent Chamane at the Impendle Magistrate Court on Wednesday afternoon. Inkosi Zuma has been in prison since his arrest on July 13 pending a bail hearing. After the state presented its statement in opposing the bail application, the court postponed the matter to Monday for cross-examination. Unlike in Inkosi Zuma's previous appearance on July 20, former president Jacob Zuma, who is his blood relative, did not arrive to support him. However, senior ANC leaders in KwaZulu-Natal, Super Zuma and Mthandeni Dlungwana, and Umkhonto Wesizwe Party activist Thobani Zuma, were there. He, his co-accused Zwelethu Buthelezi, who is his induna in Howick, and two alleged hitmen, Thabo 'Gambushe' Chonco, Thembelani Mbatha, are facing charges related to the murder of Induna Qalokunye Zuma, who was killed by a hail of bullets while at his home in Novuka village on January 14, 2023. 'Shortly after the shooting, the applicant (Inkosi Zuma) transferred an amount of R30,000 to Buthelezi, who paid the said money to Gambushe when they met at a fuel filling station in Pietermaritzburg,' said Chamane. Chonco and Mbatha, who were the first to be arrested, are already appearing at the Regional Court in Pietermaritzburg and were denied bail. Buthelezi, who is also facing charges in relation to the murder of the Democratic Alliance councillor and chief whip at uMngeni Municipality, Nhlalayenza Ndlovu, withdrew his bail application. In the statement, which National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s Advocate Zwelethu Mata read to the court, Chamane said he had evidence that directly linked the accused to the crime. The evidence is contained in cell phone recordings, bank statements, and ballistic evidence, among others. Chamane said the motive for the murder was related to a land dispute. He said that after one of Inkosi Zuma's indunas, Khumalo, had died, a certain Mnikathi informed Inkosi that there was a piece of land that was allocated to him by Khumalo. However, Inkosi refused to hand over the land to Mnikathi. This led to an argument between Inkosi and Mnikathi. Mnikathi then approached Qalokunye to intervene, but Inkosi Zuma also engaged in an argument with Qalokunye. It emerged that Inkosi Zuma was informed of a conspiracy by Qalokunye and Mnikathi to kill him. 'It should be noted that part of how the applicant was earning a living was to sell pieces of land under the tribal authority. 'The piece of land under dispute was also earmarked to be sold,' read the affidavit. In retaliation for the alleged conspiracy to kill him, Inkosi Zuma and Buthelezi arranged the killing of Qalokunye and Mnikathi using the services of Mbatha and Chonco. 'They armed themselves and went to the deceased's home where they shot and killed him at his place while he was on his bed playing a musical instrument,' said Chamane. The hit men were identified by eyewitnesses during the identity parade after they were arrested. 'After the arrest, we received several voice records in Buthelezi's cell phone between Buthelezi and the applicant (Inkosi Zuma). 'Part of the discussion was Buthelezi reporting back to the applicant about how the deceased was shot and killed, and precisely how the deceased's house was approached and the shooting happened," the state said. Chamane said Inkosi Zuma knew the hitmen. However, during his bail application, Inkosi Zuma disputed the authenticity of the voice on the recording. 'His voice will be proved at trial,' said Chamane. In trying to convince the court to deny bail, Chonco described Inkosi Zuma as a person who would do anything to escape justice. He said that after Buthelezi had skipped bail in a separate matter and was also running away from police after Ndlovu's murder, Inkosi would deposit money to him to fund his escape. He said Inkosi had also paid money to the accused in prison, apparently in trying to bribe them not to implicate him in the Qalokunye murder. [email protected]


Eyewitness News
11 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Sangoma arrested in connection with 2-year-old's murder abandons bail application
JOHANNESBURG - A sangoma arrested in connection with the murder of a two-year-old told the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court that he would be abandoning his bail application. Sebokoane Khoanyana appeared in court on Wednesday, alongside Keneilwe Shalaba, the mother of the deceased two-year-old. The two face charges of kidnapping and premeditated murder in connection with the child's disappearance. The public gallery in court was packed, with community members calling for justice for the murder of the two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba. Some in attendance told EWN that they knew Kutlwano's mother personally and were very concerned when, in November last year, she reported that the child had been kidnapped. Days later, she was arrested in connection with his disappearance. She was also questioned about receiving R75,000 on the day her child vanished. Further investigation by police in May linked her to Khoanyana. The sangoma pointed out where Kutlwano was buried in Bekkersdal, and he was arrested. On Wednesday, Khoanyana informed the court that he would not be applying for bail.