Following the kidnapping and murder of 13 year-old Gabasile Shabani and 15 month-old Nkosikhona Welcome Ngwenya, the case has attracted countrywide attention.
After the arrest of traditional healer Thokozani Msibi aged 32 and Mthobisi Brilliant Mkhize aged 26, two more suspects have been arrested for the same case.
Shabani who lived with albinism and her one-year-old cousin Nkosikhona Ngwenya were kidnapped from their home in Hlalanikahle in the still of the night in January.
Shabani’s mutilated body was discovered in a shallow grave in Cullinan near Pretoria while Ngwenya’s body was found in a stream on the N4 Highway to Pretoria.
Two more suspects have been arrested for the alleged kidnapping.
Msibi and the two other accused appeared for a formal bail application and their case has been postponed due to one of the accused’s lawyer being sick. All four remain in custody and the case has been postponed to Wednesday, April 4.
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One of the accused, Sabelo Khubeka has been charged for extortion during the kidnapping of the children. Khubeka is alleged to have phoned the family and claimed that he had the children and he would return them for money.
His case has been postponed due to section 205, the downloading of cell phone records for further investigation.
He will appear again on Friday, May 4 and his bail was set at R1 000 but he failed to pay the bail and will also remain in custody.
Protesters have been holding protest in the court during the appearance of the accused.
According to news reports, initiatives are underway in Mpumalanga to safeguard children living with albinism.
The case has spurred provincial police into action and an educational drive with sangomas and traditional healers is on the cards.
