by Lerato Dumse
Sthembiso Yende made her third appearance at the Tsakane Magistrates court on October 27, facing a charge of murder.
The 20-year-old is accused of fatally stabbing Phumzile Nkosi (27) a lesbian mother of two boys.
Sthembiso has been held at Sun City Women’s Prison in Johannesburg, following her first appearance at the same court on October 14.
The bail application process was delayed due to Sthembiso opting for a private defence instead of a state lawyer.
Sthembiso returns to court next month, for the start of her bail hearing.
Miriam Nkosi and Themba Nkosi, Phumzile’s mother and brother, don’t mince their words and make it clear that they want to see justice served, calling for a 25year prison sentence, which is the minimum sentence for murder convictions.
Themba said it is alleged that Sthembiso lives in the next street from their home, even though the murder occurred in another section of their township.
Her arrest coincided with the victim’s funeral on October 12, surrounded by a lot of confusion caused by the different names used to identify the suspect.
Although details of why Phumzile was stabbed are still sketchy, Miriam recalled how she arrived on the scene in Extension 19, to find her youngest child’s lifeless body lying face up on the street.
She says it’s only when she turned her over, that she saw a single stab wound on her upper body.
Themba has been making the trips to court alone, as his mother doesn’t believe she is strong enough to attend with him.
He said losing his sister has been very hard on him, as they were inseparable and did a lot of things together.
Thabo Molefe appeared in court charged with the murder of Lihle Sokhela
While at the Benoni Regional two court, Thabo Molefe made it clear that he does not wish to apply for pay, opting to remain at Modderbee Prison.
He cited the fear for his life as his reason for choosing to remain behind bars, charged with the murder of Lihle Sokhela, a lesbian woman from Daveyton.
Judge Mitzi Schutte told Thabo during his court appearance October 23, that the investigation was concluded and prosecution was satisfied.
The case is likely to be transferred to the High Court in Pretoria, after the National Prosecuting Authority sent a letter requesting fir the case to be transferred.
Thabo who was out on parole for rape when the murder occurred, is said to have handed himself over to police, while his mother made the gruesome discovery of Lihle’s body in his room last month.
Members of the LGBT community and the Treatment Action Campaign came in numbers to attend the court case, which lasted less than 5 minutes, before being adjourned until December.
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