Bereaved family says the wheels of justice are slow

Lolo Madonsela

The family and neighbours of the late Mseni Primary School teacher, Samukelisiwe Nkabinde from Paulpietersburg, said they are happy at the postponement of murder accused, Thami Xolani Dlamini’s bail application.
Proceedings at the Vryheid Magistrate’s Court last Monday ended with the case postponed to March 16.
“I want justice to be served; he should not get bail and he must get a life sentence for what he did,” said the emotional mother of Samukelisiwe, Nana Nkabinde.
According to Nkabinde, the numerous and escalating incidents of abuse allegedly perpetrated by Dlamini against her daughter were reported to the police.
Nkabinde’s neighbour, MaKheswa, who was also in court to show her support for Samukelisiwe, said, “As the neighbours, we are not happy at the way the police handled things from the start. Had they been swift and arrested him when she reported him before the fatal day, Samu would still be alive today. Our ‘wheels of justice’ move at a snail’s pace, making us susceptible to such abuse that eventually leads to our deaths. He must just rot in jail for what he did.”

Also read: Alleged former lover guns down teacher

SAPS reported that Dlamini, who was Samukelisiwe’s former lover, opened fire on the vehicle she and colleague were travelling to school in.
Samukelisiwe tried to flee but was eventually shot in the head and died at the scene, while her colleague was shot in the right arm.
Dlamini is then reported to have climbed into Samukelisiwe’s vehicle and driven from L426 towards Paulpietersburg, where he abandoned the vehicle and hitchhiked towards Eswatini.
He was later arrested at the Eswatini border crossing.
During court proceedings, the State Prosecutor said Dlamini’s bail application could not continue because the docket was not in hand, and requested the matter be postponed for a formal bail application.
The Magistrate agreed and Dlamini was remanded into police custody until his next court date.

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