Karabo was ‘sacrificed’ in a ‘ritual killing’ – report

Sunday tabloid Sunday World reports that it has been provided with shocking details about the state’s case against her alleged killer, boyfriend Sandile Mantsoe.

They allege that police believe her murder was a ritual killing performed at a “Joburg church where they swapped blood in a bid to unite the couple spiritually and strengthen Mantsoe’s ailing business”.

The 22-year-old was in an allegedly abusive relationship with her 27-year-old boyfriend, Mantsoe, a forex trader and evangelist.

They report that Mantsoe’s Ghanaian “sangoma” was allegedly also involved with the murder, but apparently died shortly after Mantsoe admitted to police that he had burnt Mokoena’s body in a field in Bramley.

The allegation is that the sangoma was interested in harvesting body parts for muti purposes. The police are reportedly looking for the late Ghanaian’s home in the hope that human body parts will be found there.

The tabloid reports that Mantsoe is still married to a 33-year-old woman from the Eastern Cape and that the police are looking for the Lusikisiki resident for a statement.

The police and the National Prosecuting Authority declined to comment on the details, which may be heard in court during Mantsoe’s bail application on Friday.

Karabo’s family told the tabloid they were convinced that she had not known Mantsoe was married, or she would not have gotten involved with him.

The couple had dated for seven months and Karabo was said to have been deeply in love with Mantsoe, believing he was a “God-fearing man”.

Karabo’s uncle, Tshepo Mokoena, said last month that CCTV footage indicated that she was seen entering Mantsoe’s building in Sandton on the night of her death, but never left it.

Her body was discovered several days later in a shallow grave in Bramley, burnt beyond recognition.

Karabo’s friends have told the media that she had endured months of abuse at the hands of her boyfriend, saying that she had faced more than one beating at his hands. He apparently believed that she was being unfaithful.

The friends told City Press last month that they had noticed Mantsoe’s “carpets were wet” when they went to visit him following Karabo’s disappearance. Mantsoe told them his fridge had leaked.

The police confirmed that Karabo and her alleged killer had laid countercharges of assault against each other during the period of their relationship.

Karabo’s younger brother showed the media a shocking photo of how badly she had once been beaten by her boyfriend.

According to Sunday World last month, Mantsoe allegedly loaded Karabo’s body in a wheely bin, loaded it in his BMW and then picked up a tyre, acid and a petrol container from his family home. He then proceeded to the location where the burnt remains were found.

They claim that these details can be found in the affidavit Mantsoe deposed to this week in which he allegedly confesses to getting rid of the body, but denies killing his girlfriend. It’s understood that he has said she committed suicide.

They report that Mantsoe has claimed he “doesn’t know who killed her” but that he had panicked because he believed that people would think he was responsible for her death.

The Sunday Times added the detail that “two women” can be seen on CCTV footage at the Sandton Skye building “leaving the house with plastic bags that seem to be filled with sheets. Mantsoe leaves the house with the body at around 2pm the next day.”