Sister tells of the family’s search for murdered Leandra woman
A few days after Betty Malinga's disappearance on Christmas Day, the family received a phone call about women’s clothes hanging on a fence at the house where a known nyaope addict was living.
Although Betty Malinga has been laid to rest, her family is still in mourning. Her sister, Emmah Malinga, told Ridge Times she is especially worried about how Betty’s 14-year-old daughter will cope at school.
Betty went missing in Leandra on Christmas day. The community found her body dumped in a furrow nine days later, on January 3.
“I rushed to the family home when my niece phoned to tell me that Betty was not home. Upon my arrival, we began searching for Betty in the neighbourhood but did not find her.
“We reported her missing to the police and put her picture on social media. We even went as far as Delmas when we heard a body was found on a farm in that area.
“When we arrived at Delmas Police Station, they told us they found the body in Bronkhorstspruit, and it was that of a man,” said Emmah.
She said they were broken as they drove back to Leandra. A person phoned the family a few days later about women’s clothes hanging on a fence at the house where a known nyaope addict was living.
Emmah said they rushed to the house, and she immediately noticed her sister’s clothes.
The search party then moved to the police to tell them about the discovered clothes and the police went with them to the specific house.
A call from a community member sent them to a constructed furrow in Ext 9, where the naked body of a woman was found. They informed the police on the way there.
“I will never forget seeing Betty’s body in that furrow,” said Emmah.
“I was shocked by what I saw. Betty was naked and her body all bloated. My sister was brutally murdered.”
Emmah thanked the community for their help and support in finding the body and the culprit. Lucky Nkosi was arrested and charged with murder and rape.
He first appeared in the Leandra Magistrate’s Court on January 8 and the case was postponed to January 15 for bail application.
The community picketed in front of the court that day. The case was postponed to January 17 for Nkosi to consult with his legal aid attorney.
Community members came in numbers and filled the court gallery, while others were picketing outside, where they were furious and hollering when Nkosi was escorted to court from the police holding cells.
He was denied bail and his case was postponed to February 28.
