Mother still grieves cruel murder of little Bontle as court case continues
Permission Mabilane said she feels let down by the KaBokweni Magistrate's Court after it ruled to provisionally withdraw charges against one of the suspects.
The slain Bontle Mashiyane’s mother, Permission Mabilane (29), said she has lost all hope and trust in the justice system.
During an interview with Mpumalanga News, she said she is still grieving the loss of her child.
In April 2022, the six-year-old girl Bontle was reported missing. Her mutilated body was found about a month later, a few metres from her home in Mnganduzweni outside White River.
Bontle’s murder sent shockwaves all over the country. The police launched a manhunt after her body was found, and with the help of community members, the accused were arrested in less than a week.
Mabilane said her hopelessness is increased by the recent ruling by the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court to provisionally withdraw the charges against one of the accused, Samuel ‘Mangebeletane’ Tsela. He and his son, Philasande Tsela, and the other co-accused, Ntombikayise Ngwenyama, Collen Hlongwane, Thapelo Ngomane, appeared in the court on Friday July 28.
Mabilane said, “I am not physically, mentally and emotionally well. I was admitted to the hospital for a week because of stress. I could not attend the last court session. This case is dragging and I do not have hope that the people will pay for the killing my child in cold blood. They took my beautiful daughter and killed her like an animal and this so-called justice system is failing me. I knew that this case is becoming weak when the two Tselas were granted bail.”
The provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Monica Nyuswa said Mangebeletane has not been acquitted of the charges.
“The court ruled for the charges to be provisionally withdrawn as the matter is referred back to the SAPS for further investigation. The evidence that was provided is not strong enough to secure an indictment or conviction.”
She said Mangebeletane is not off the hook, as the police still do have a case against him. “The NPA instructed the police to continue gathering more information that can be used in the court. If the police provide us with the evidence, the case can be reinstated back to court,” Nyuswa said.
However, the other four accused were served the indictment, which is the formal charge of a serious crime. They face four charges, which are the conspiracy to commit murder, murder, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
Nyuswa said the four will appear again in court on October 6 for a date to be set to make their appearance in the Mpumalanga High Court.
She said the NPA hopes that the police would have gathered enough evidence to bring Mangebeletane back into the case before the co-accused appear in the high court.
All the accused have appeared in court several times until Mangebeletane and his son were granted bail of R5 000 each by the Graskop Regional Court on February 15.
Nyuswa said the NPA respected the court’s decision to grant the two accused their bail, after it had ruled that it was in the interest of the justice system.
