A man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend briefly appeared at the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court.
The case was moved to December 6.
Tiyane Mashaba (37) from Mamelodi, Khutsong extension was sent for 30 days’ psychiatric evaluation on Monday.
He is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, second-year Unisa law student Mmanuku Tauyatswala (26).
Mashaba was arrested when her naked body was found in his bedroom in Mamelodi with multiple stab wounds to her upper body on June 3.
Mmanuku’s family was supported by the ANC Women’s League and the GBV Brigades in Mamelodi. They protested outside the court, holding placards demanding that the suspect not be granted bail.
The organisation sang outside the court: “We won’t allow any form of violence in our community.”
Aunt of the deceased, Matlhodi Madiseng (76), said she “wanted justice for our daughter and the accused must stop pretending to be crazy. He knows what he was doing when he killed her”.
She said Mmanuku separated from Mashaba due to abuse and she had a protection order against him.
“She was staying with her brother in Johannesburg and the last time he saw her was on June 2 around 21:00 when she went to sleep,” said Madiseng.
She said the family received a call the following day that Mmanuku was found dead in her ex-boyfriend’s room in Mamelodi.
Madiseng claimed Mashaba drove to Johannesburg at night and somehow tricked Mmanuku into getting in his car and drove back with her to Mamelodi, where he brutally killed her.
“No weapon was found but we believe he killed our daughter with a sharp object because she had a lot of stab wounds in the upper body and face,” she said.
The family of Mmanuku was also accusing Mashaba’s family of destroying evidence. They asked for her nightdress and when the family handed it over, it was still soaking wet from being washed.
Sarah Raphadi, team leader of GBV Brigades in Mamelodi, said they came to support the family.
“Mmanuku had a bright future as a lawyer.”
Raphadi said the accused must stop wasting the court’s time and resources by pretending to be mentally disturbed.
“We are also going to sign a petition following the outcome of the psychiatric evaluation not to grant him bail.
“We are pleading with the justice system to speed up the process. The family has to travel as far as Johannesburg and Limpopo to attend the court case,” she said.
“We are tired of GBV in Mamelodi and we will support the family until justice is served for Mmanuku.”
She asked the court to set a good example with Mashaba, by issuing a hefty sentence in permanently removing him from society.
The ANC Women’s League pleaded with South African men to introspect and stop being at war with women in this country.
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