Ntuthuko Shoba, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Tshegofatso Pule, appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court for the first time on Monday, 22 February.
The 32-year-old man facing charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and defeating the ends of justice, made a brief appearance in a courtroom filled with media representatives and close relatives of the deceased.
Also read: Muzikayise Malephane wrote a letter apologising for killing Tshegofatso Pule
This man, reported to be Tshego’s boyfriend and father of their deceased unborn baby, was arrested on Friday, 19 February after Muzikayise Malephane, 31, who was convicted of murdering Tshego, turned state witness in the South Gauteng High Court after confessing to killing Tshego on a verbal offer of R70 000 by the alleged mastermind whom he referred to as a friend of his in his confession statement.
The matter was postponed to 1 March and he was remanded in custody.
Reflecting on this brief appearance and seeing the suspect for the first time, Tshego’s uncle, Tumisang Katake, said, “It is reopening old wounds which were beginning to heal. With this matter, it’s worse because we’ve had our suspicions about his involvement in this murder for a long time, which were confirmed in the High Court.”
He added that the family was still shattered emotionally after the Malephane hearing, and he wasn’t sure how they would handle this hearing moving forward. “We really don’t know what could’ve driven him to commit such an offence besides the pregnancy of Tshegofatso,” a puzzled Katake reflected. He also cited no knowledge of his niece being abused prior to her brutal slaying.
As the next step in this matter, Katake hoped that the court would deny Shoba bail.
