Mpumalanga woman’s body found in shallow grave: 3 in court

The three people accused of the murder of Bonisiwe Mabuza made their first court appearance in KaNyamazane Periodical Court.

Marvellous Tshepo Madonsela (33) and Mbuyiseni Isaac Sikhiti (34) appeared in the KaNyamazane Periodical Court earlier today, while the third accused, Pertunia Mhlanga (28), appeared in the court yesterday. Mhlanga was granted bail of R500.

While the case was postponed for further investigation to August 14, the trio is expected to appear together then. Madonsela and Sikhiti remain in custody until the court date.

They face charges of murder, kidnapping and house robbery.

Body of missing woman discovered in shallow grave

The body of 37-year-old Mabuza was found in a shallow grave at the Luphisa gravesite in Pienaar on Monday. She had been murdered.

Mabuza was reported missing on June 25 after not being found in her home in KaNyamazane.

According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli, on the day she was reported missing, her VW Polo was found in a secluded place in Pienaar. All the wheels, a side mirror and a backseat were removed. Some items, including a TV set and a fridge, from inside her house were also missing.

“Over the past weekend, the SAPS initially took two people, a male and a female, in for questioning. This led to a breakthrough as well as the recovery of some of the items the police are convinced were stolen from the victim. The two were detained as suspects while a third suspect handed himself over to the police on July 1.”

Mdhluli previously said more charges could be added against the suspects as the investigation continues.