Body parts found in suitcase: Benoni court postpones case

The case against a 33-year-old Actonville, Ekurhuleni, woman and her co-accused, a 53-year-old man, found with a suitcase containing body parts in November, has been postponed to October 11.

Tatenda Mhlanga and Johannes Lebese appeared in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court last Thursday, where their matter was postponed to allow the state to check the availability of a bed at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital for Mhlanga to be mentally assessed.

The pair face charges of murder and violating a corpse.

They were arrested on November 11 after crime prevention wardens on patrol noticed them pushing what seemed like a heavy suitcase near the corner of Roshini and Kohinor streets.

The wardens questioned them about the purple suitcase’s contents.

According to SAPS Ekurhuleni district communications officer Captain Neldah Sekgobela, the man said it contained a cow’s head.

“The wardens opened the suitcase and found the mutilated body of a man. Other body parts were discovered on the same day, about 30m from the scene.

“The woman fled the scene, but her sister handed her over to the police the next day,” said Sekgobela.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased was Mhlanga’s boyfriend, who had lived with her in Actonville.

The male suspect, who lives on the same street as Mhlanga, alleged that she asked him to help her carry the suitcase.

Lebese was released on bail, but Mhlanga was remanded in custody.