Bushbuckridge man appears in court for murder of minor
He allegedly murdered his five-year-old cousin. The case has been postponed to September.
Reply Ngobeni (27) from Rainbow in Bushbuckridge made his third appearance in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on August 11 for the murder of his five-year-old cousin, Testimony Manchidi.
The accused had allegedly taken the victim to a local shop on July 25 to buy some snacks. He returned alone and informed the family that the victim had gone to play with some other children in the neighbourhood.
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The family became worried and started a search, and later discovered her body in the nearby bush, with her throat slit and stab wounds to her upper body.
The accused was appearing for a formal bail application, which the state initially opposed due to the seriousness of the offence. However, his legal representative told the court that he is not mentally stable, and requested that he be taken for mental observation.
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State prosecutor Asanda Soduka told the court that the state has hospital records proving that the accused was receiving medication. Therefore, both parties agreed to postpone the matter to September 1, for mental observation to determine the accused’s fitness to stand trial.
The National Prosecuting Authority said it condemns violence perpetrated against women and children.
