The case against a 36-year-old man, accused of murdering 11 KwaZulu-Natal women and dumping their bodies in sugar-cane fields, was postponed on Monday in the Umzinto Magistrate’s Court for further investigation.
Magistrate Giel van Aarde postponed the case against Thozamile Taki and his alleged accomplice, Hlengiwe Nene, until April 23.
Taki is accused of luring women to Umzinto with the promise of employment and then murdering them. It is alleged that he also raped them.
During Nene’s unsuccessful bail application on November 27, the court heard that when some of the victims could not be convinced about the offer of employment in Umzinto, they would receive a call from a woman who would tell them: ”This is my brother. You’ve got nothing to fear.”
Investigating officer Nico Crouse told the court then that there was a strong possibility that Nene was that woman.
Police initially arrested five people — three women and two men — in connection with the murders.
Two women have since been released and the charges against Zandisile Bhadla Somanikiniki (28) were dropped during a hearing on October 10. — Sapa