Sangoma abandons bail in Kutlwano Shalaba murder case
An illegal Lesotho National Sangoma, Sebokoana Khounyana (50), abandoned his bail application at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court.
It is alleged that on 10 November 2024, Shalaba’s mother, Keneuwe, took the two-year-old to Khounyane and requested him to kill her child because she was not happy with the child’s gender and was tired of hiding it from her family.
She had allegedly been passing her daughter off as a boy.
READ: Kutlwano Shalaba killed for being ‘the wrong gender’
After meeting with the alleged sangoma, the young mother then allegedly fed the baby poison, and the two accused then buried her body in a shallow grave in Waterpan.
The 32-year-old was arrested and charged with human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and making a false statement to police.
However, investigations revealed the mother received R75,000 in her bank account on the day the child was reported missing.
READ MORE: Body believed to be Kutlwano Shalaba found
Her alleged accomplice, Khounyane, was arrested last month after he reportedly pointed police to the grave where a child’s remains were discovered.
“After investigations by the police, the sangoma was arrested on 29 May 2025, and he subsequently made a confession and pointed out to the police where the body of the child was buried.”
“After the brief appearance in court, the matter was postponed to 06 August 2025 for further investigations,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.
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