Man arrested after discovery of 6 bodies in Jhb building named in court
The case against the man who was arrested after the discovery of six bodies in a Johannesburg building has been postponed to 31 October for formal bail application.
The 20-year-old suspect, whose identity was initially withheld, has been named as Sfiso Mkhwanazi after he was pointed out by witnesses at an identity parade last Friday.
Mkhwanazi made his third court appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. He faces one count of murder while investigations into the deaths of the other five victims continue.
It emerged in court that Mkhwanazi’s father had visited him in prison and attempted to coerce him to confess to the murders.
The grim discovery of the women victims, who are believed to be sex workers, was made at Mkhwanazi’s father’s panel beating workshop at the beginning of October.
His Legal Aid lawyer Khanyiswa Mkhabe asked the court to bar the father from visiting the accused.
However, Magistrate Betty Khumalo said she could not make an order on the matter, advising Mkhabe to address her client’s displeasure with the Department of Correctional Services.
“Ms Mkhabe, you might as well write to Correctional Services to indicate this displeasure because I cannot now enter into their terrain. The accused is here in court and I am dealing with what is before me. As far as the issues that he is experiencing during his awaiting trial you can complain to the Correctional Services Department.”
Khumalo maintained that while it’s Mkhwanazi constitutional right to have visitors while he is in custody, he also has the right to decline visits from his father.
The magistrate also cautioned against the alleged attempts to force the accused to confess.
“Nobody is entitled to compel the accused to make a confession. People must understand, even family, that is something that a person must do freely and voluntarily, without any undue influence,” she said.
Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority’s Phindi Mjonondwane said the state will be opposing bail.
“We are now going to a stage where we need to prepare for formal bail application, and as the state, we have indicated that it’s a premeditated murder, which then falls schedule six and we will be opposing bail.”
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