By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The court case of the two suspects arrested in connection with the murder and mutilation of two Soweto boys has been postponed.
Nqobile Ndlovu, 50, and her partner, Mzwakhe Zulu, 39, appeared in the Protea Magistrate’s Court. They face charges of premeditated murder, kidnapping, perjury and defeating the ends of justice for the murders of Nqobizitha Zulu, 5 and his friend, Tshiamo Ramanye, 6.
Dressed in a black jacket, Rabanye’s grandmother arrived in court covering her head with the jacket hood and wearing a cap. Zulu was dressed in a grey hoodie.
The pair told the court that they would apply for bail while the state indicated it intention of opposing the bail application.
The state alleges that the couple acted with a common purpose , that the bodies of the children were mutilated and that the act of murder was premeditated.
It was revealed in court that Ndlovu was convicted of assualt at the same court when she was 19, while Zulu has no previous convictions.
The preciding judge in the matter, Tshepiso Maepa, said the matter is postponed to allow Ndlovu’s defence to be present.
The case was postponed to 5 May for the court to settle on a date for a formal bail application. Both Ndlovu and Zulu will remain in custody.
Court proceedings took place at the same time as the funerals for Rabanye and Zulu. The boys were snatched from a park where they were playing and murdered. Their bodies were mutilated.
Both bodies were missing their private parts, noses and lips when they were discovered by men patrolling in the area.
The funeral service befitting of heroes took place at Jabavu Stadium in Soweto on Friday, about 3km from where the bodies were discovered.
Multitudes of community members and civic organisations came to pay their last respects.
The funeral was also attended by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane.
Zulu’s uncle Xolani said they were shattered as a family as the five-year-old showed signs that he would grow up to be a successful man.
“This young man was fierce; you could see in his eyes that he was a soldier of life. I knew that he was my force. We will always love him, and I say that those who did this act must face the full might of the law.”
Their teacher, Jabulile Nhlabathi, said they both enjoyed doing their schoolwork and were never late for class.
She added, My boys must rest in peace. I really had high hopes for them. They were so respectful and intelligent.