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TimesLIVE
an hour ago
- TimesLIVE
Sangoma implicated in toddler's murder makes U-turn on bail
The sangoma who was arrested in connection with the premeditated murder of two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba has made an about-turn and wants to apply for bail. Sebokoana Khoanyana, 50, made a brief appearance on Thursday and his matter was postponed to June 25 for a formal bail application. Khoanyana appeared alongside Kutlwano's mother, Keneiwe Shalaba, 33, who is accused of lying about her son's disappearance in November 2024. Shalaba is also facing charges of premeditated murder. Khoanyana had initially requested that an attorney be made available so that he could plead guilty but was advised by the court that it was not the right time to plead. His lawyer, Gladmore Nyamande, said his client had a previous conviction of assault in 2019, which he believes was withdrawn. He was also convicted of possession of dagga but got a suspended sentence. Speaking to reporters shortly after the matter was postponed, Nyamande said: 'On his first appearance, he was not aware of his legal rights when he told the court that he wanted to plead guilty. 'According to his rights, the first thing he needs to do is to apply for bail and this matter will go further than the magistrate's court. We are not at the stage [of the trial] for him to plead guilty. He is flip-flopping; we don't know. When we come back, he might say he wants to abandon bail. 'On the day [of his first appearance] he just thought that by appearing and saying he wanted to plead, then the whole matter would be finished,' he said. A sangoma arrested in connection with the murder of Kutlwano Shalaba, 2, appears again in court alongside the child's mother Keneiwe Shalaba. The two are accused of killing Kutlwano in November last year. #BabyKutlwano @SowetanLIVE — Jeanette Chabalala 🇿🇦 (@J_chabalala) June 5, 2025 Khoanyana was arrested last Thursday after he led the police to a shallow grave at Waterpan Road in Bekkersdal, where the remains of a toddler believed to be Kutlwano were exhumed. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the investigation revealed that on November 10 2024, Shalaba took the child to the sangoma and requested him to kill her child because she was not happy with the gender of the baby and was tired of hiding it from her family that the child was a girl. 'The mother then allegedly fed the baby poison and after the baby died, it is alleged that the two took the child and buried her in a shallow grave in Waterpan.' Shalaba was denied bail in February. She told police that Kutlwano was strapped to her back when he was snatched from her. However, she was arrested a few days later.
SowetanLIVE
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- SowetanLIVE
Presley Chweneyagae remembered with second memorial service in Pretoria
A second memorial service for The River actor, Presley Chweneyagae is held at the State Theatre in Pretoria on Tuesday. He died at the age of 40 last week. SowetanLIVE
SowetanLIVE
6 days ago
- SowetanLIVE
Police find missing toddler Kutlwano Shalaba's body after sangoma tells all
The body of two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba, who went missing in November last year, has been recovered. A police source confirmed to Sowetan that the child's body was found in a shallow grave at an abandoned mine near Randfontein, west of Joburg. The source said a 50-year-old sangoma who operated at the Vereeniging taxi rank has been arrested. 'The traditional healer took officers to where the body was. A postmortem will be conducted at the Carletonville mortuary, but we believe the child died on November 10,' said the source. Kutlwano, from Boipatong in the Vaal, was reported missing on November 13. His mother, Keneilwe Shalaba, had reported that Kutlwano was snatched from her by unknown men in a silver-grey vehicle. However, she was later arrested and charged with human trafficking, conspiracy to commit an offence and making a false statement to the police. The state alleged that Shalaba sold baby Kutlwano for R75,000, an amount she admitted receiving on the same day her son went missing, though she could not say where it came from. Shalaba previously alleged she went to Durban with Kutlwano on November 10 to buy clothes to sell. But police Sgt George Motloung, who testified during her bail application in February, said the child never made it to Durban, adding that he had obtained statements and affidavits from a group of women Shalaba travelled with to KwaZulu-Natal. He was told that Shalaba had asked those she travelled with to lie, if questioned by police, and say she was with Kutlwano in Durban. Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed the police made the gruesome discovery in Waterpan Road, near the R28 in Bekkersdal. 'The remains are suspected to be of Kutlwano but a DNA analysis will be performed to determine the identity of the corpse,' she said. Sibeko said Shalaba and the traditional healer will appear before the Vanderbiljpark magistrate's court on Monday June 2 to face charges of murder and human trafficking. SowetanLIVE
The Herald
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Mdaka credits PSL's Diski reserve league for Amajita's Afcon success
'Together we are stronger. It is nice to do my part but the real plaudits go to everyone, even the people behind the scenes; physios, doctors, fitness coaches and the players too. 'It's amazing what we've been able to do.' Amajita's first success in the U-20 Afcon came in their second final appearance, the first when coach Shakes Mashaba's generation of Benni McCarthy, Matthew Booth, Junaid Hartley and Stanton Fredericks lost 1-0 to hosts Morocco in the 1997 last game, 28 years ago. South Africa sealed their ticket to the U-20 World Cup, to be staged in Chile from September 27 to October 19, by reaching the semifinals. SowetanLIVE
SowetanLIVE
12-05-2025
- SowetanLIVE
Timothy Omotoso appears in court
Following his arrest at the weekend, pastor Timothy Omotoso makes his first appearance at the East London Magistrates court on Monday. He was arrested on Saturday morning on charges related to the violation of the Immigration Act. SowetanLIVE
