Orlando Chauke
GIYANI – THE suspects in the murder of Masenyani Edward Makhubele (45), better known as Mhlokozi, a successful businessman from Giyani will have to wait until the August 4 to know their fate as the state is still gathering information surrounding the case.
The two suspects, Lucia Chabalala-Maluleke, a 30-year-old woman from Siyandhani village in Giyani and her accomplice Vongani Zulu, a 32-year-old man from Zimbabwe who lives in Pretoria, are accused of murdering Mhlokozi at his home last week in front of his wife and children.
According to information that emerged in court during the bail application, which was later denied, accused number one, Chabalala-Maluleke was pointed out as the kingpin who had sent out accused number two, Zulu and two other suspects who were still at large, to the house of the deceased with the intention to rob him.
However, the robbery went wrong when the suspects apparently shot and killed the deceased before they could rob him and then fled the scene without taking anything.
In their second court appearance at the Giyani magistrate’s court last Thursday, the accused number one did not seem fazed when the magistrate announced that their case was to be postponed to August for further investigation. She smiled as she was escorted down the dock back to the holding cells.
The spokesperson for Makhubele’s family, John Makhubele, said the family was worried that the other two suspects were still at large. “As a family, we’re eagerly awaiting the arrest of the other two suspects.”
