Son kills mother, buries her under couch

For almost a month, pensioner Cecilia Ntelele’s body lay inside the shallow grave dug beneath the shack she shared with her son in Finetown, south of Johannesburg, Rising Sun Lenasia reports.

Her unemployed 46-year-old son, Molefi,  pretended that nothing had happened, and continued eating and sleeping inside the two-roomed shack the two had shared for years.

But on Sunday afternoon, Molefi was in police custody, and Ntelele’s body had been exhumed and taken to the morgue, leaving behind a stifling smell that would remind relatives and neighbours of their gruesome discovery.

Family members and residents could not contain their emotions after the body of 72-year-old was discovered. She was reported missing on January 21.

It is alleged that the accused told relatives that his mother was taken to Bloemfontein by an uncle, whose name was not known to family members. A neighbour said Molefi’s behaviour grew strange after his mother went missing.

READ MORE: Police describe Polokwane murder scene as ‘most gruesome’

“We knew something was wrong when Cecilia went missing. We became suspicious, when, after a week or two, we saw her son bringing rubble to the yard. He also frequently walked around with a bottle of disinfectant in his hand,” said neighbour Cecilia Makhajane.

Ntelele’s niece, Thenjiwe Rapoo, said she met members of the local community policing forum on the Friday before the body was discovered.

Rapoo and other members of the family said that all the Ntelele’s essentials, such as her crutches and medication, were still in her room. Upon further investigation, the family noticed that there had been a heap of sand under the couch and subsequently discovered the body.

Police were alerted and Molefi was arrested.

– Caxton News Service

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