Anger in Diepsloot as charges withdrawn
|Published
Two children aged 2 and 3 were found dead in a toilet in Diepsloot extension 1 this morning, a massive man hunt is underway. Picture: Antoine de Ras, 15/10/13 Two children aged 2 and 3 were found dead in a toilet in Diepsloot extension 1 this morning, a massive man hunt is underway. Picture: Antoine de Ras, 15/10/13
Johannesburg - Angry residents of Diepsloot vowed they would kill four of the accused in the kidnapping, rape and murder case of cousins Yonelisa, 2, and Zandile Mali, 3, even though all charges against them were withdrawn on Friday.
The five suspects, of whom only one remains accused, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday while angry residents protested outside. The Mali cousins went missing on October 12 and their bodies were found in a communal toilet in the township days later. They had been raped and strangled.
Chief prosecutor Matric Luphondo told the overflowing courtroom new evidence and further investigation revealed the prosecution could not prove the first four accused, arrested a day before the fifth suspect, were involved in the kidnapping, rape and murder.
Residents of Diepsloot and supporters of political parties gathered outside court, with signs saying “no bail for rapists, no bail for killers”, “stop raping our children”, “touch my child and you die next”.
The matter resumes on November 27.
Pretoria News Weekend