Durban — The Legal Aid lawyer representing murder accused Bongani Sanele Mlambo took sick leave – again – delaying the Xolile Mbatha murder case in the Durban High Court on Tuesday.
Mlambo pleaded guilty to killing Mangosuthu University of Technology final-year electrical engineering student in July.
Mlambo, 28, is alleged to have stabbed Mbatha, who was his girlfriend, in the bathroom of the Ark Royal student residence on Mahatma Gandhi Road. Mlambo pleaded guilty earlier this month, but the court is waiting for the post-mortem report. Mlambo appeared in court on Tuesday, when State prosecutor BN Mbokazi asked for an adjournment because Mlambo’s Legal Aid lawyer , SB Madondo, was in hospital.
The matter was adjourned for Thursday.
Unlike the last appearance, there were fewer family members in court, while students filled the gallery once again.
Outside court, Busisiwe Zwane, EFF student command co-ordinator of the MUT branch, said she was unhappy about the delays.
“We want him to be sentenced. We want justice for Xolile and all other brothers and sisters we have lost because of GBV.”
She also expressed concern about safety at the institution’s residences, and referred to the 2018 murder of Zolile Khumalo who was shot by her boyfriend Thabani Mzolo at the Lonsdale residence in Durban.
Previously, the court had heard how Mlambo and Mbatha began a relationship after connecting on Facebook in 2018.
The court heard that in 2021, things changed when Mbatha allegedly started exchanging text messages with a fellow congregant.
According to Mlambo, in July this year Mbatha had told him she was pregnant with twins; days afterwards she told him she had had a miscarriage.
He further told the court that when he went to her residence the first time she was angry and shouted at him, telling him never to come back.
When he came back on another day he found her in the bathroom, but when he tried to open the door to come in she pushed it in an attempt to stop him.
While they were arguing, Mbatha’s friend came in and asked why Mlambo was being a nuisance, saying Mbatha no longer wanted him. That was when he picked up a knife that was on a table.
Daily News