LIMPOPO – Aubrey Manaka, who is accused of killing Capricorn TVET College student, Precious Ramabulana, was set to appear in the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane today (June 7).
Manaka (28) faces charges of murder, rape, robbery and housebreaking with intent to commit an offence, said the Director of Public Prosecutions’ regional spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.
Read more: ‘SA justice system fails Precious Ramabulana’
Ramabulana, a 21-year-old college student at Capricorn TVET’s Ramokgopa campus, was found stabbed to death in her room in an off-campus residence in Mokomene on November 24, 2019. The police found her body in a pool of blood with several stab wounds.
An intensive police manhunt was launched for the suspect and Manaka was arrested at his parental home in Nyakelang Village, Botlokwa on November 28, 2019. Manaka abandoned bail during his first court appearance on December 2, 2019, and was remanded in custody.
Also read: Arrest in Precious Ramabulana’s case
Police investigations also revealed that Manaka was involved in the rape case of a four-year-old girl in 2014. This case has since been reinstated, according to an earlier statement by police spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo.
Manaka’s trial for the murder of Ramabulana was set to start today, however, it was postponed to June 9.
“The state was ready to proceed with the trial of Manaka, however, could not proceed due to the unavailability of Manaka as he is still in quarantine for Covid-19,” she explained.
