The Ligwalagwala FM’s Siyadvumisa host, Given Mathabela, spoke out after the case was postponed again in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday, saying each court appearance forces the family to confront the pain of his daughter’s death.

“All these postponements are tiring and emotionally draining, it honestly feels like secondary victimisation. The State really must get their house in order,” he said in a statement posted on his social media platforms.
He said every court appearance serves as a painful reminder of the circumstances surrounding his daughter’s death.

“Every visit to court, is a painful reminder of the gruesome murder, when do we even begin to heal?” he said.
The case was postponed after the State informed the court that the indictment needed to move the matter to the High Court remains unsigned.

Katlego Mokoena (19) and Lungelo Sithole (19), who are accused of murdering the 20-year-old, appeared in court on Monday. Mathabela was allegedly stabbed to death by the duo at her home in Mataffin in November last year.

The State told the court that it is now in possession of the indictment, which sets out the charges the accused are expected to face in the High Court, but the document has not yet been signed.

The matter had previously been postponed to allow the State to finalise the indictment after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) indicated that the investigation had been completed and the case was ready to proceed to the High Court.

READ | Lusanda Mathabela Murder: Ex boyfriend denied bail

During the proceedings, defence attorney Bontle Lebotse, representing Mokoena, pointed out that the State was now in possession of the indictment, although it remained unsigned.

Advocate Patt Sekatane, representing Sithole, questioned the lack of progress saying: “I will put it in a nutshell that nothing has been done. Because there’s no signature, there’s no date. Normally the indictment comes with the date which directs you which date you must go to the High Court,” he said.

Magistrate Patrick Morris also expressed his disapproval over the delay and urged the DPP’s office to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.

ALSO READ | Family of brutally slain teen seeks justice!

“This is a very serious matter. And I expect the DPP’s office to also treat this as a very serious matter. The public are sitting and looking at what is happening in court. And I can tell you now that they are not happy,” said Morris.

The magistrate gave the State until 25 August 2026 to return with the signed indictment and warned that he did not want further delays.The case was postponed to 25 August 2026 for the indictment. Mokoena and Sithole remain in custody.

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This if following an attack that occurred on January 24 this year in White River, where Mdlovu was selling vetkoeks at her stall. Nkosi was unknown to the victim at the time.

Evidence presented by the state established that Mdlovu noticed Nkosi engaged in an argument with another man. The altercation escalated into a physical fight and moved closer to where she was frying vetkoek in a large pot of hot cooking oil.

In a statement issued by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Concerned for their safety and her own, Mdlovu instructed the men to stop fighting and move away, warning them that the oil could cause serious injuries.

“Nkosi then directed his aggression towards her. Fearing for her safety, Mdlovu fled from her vending station. Nkosi grabbed the pot containing the hot oil, chased after her, and, upon catching up with her, poured the hot oil over her body. The attack left Mdlovu with severe burn injuries,” reads the statement.

READ | Family of murdered woman accuse lover of abuse

An eyewitness travelling in a vehicle observed Nkosi pursuing Mdlovu and pouring the hot oil over her. The witness immediately intervened and called for assistance. Police responded swiftly and arrested Nkosi shortly thereafter. Mdlovu was transported to hospital by ambulance for urgent medical treatment.

The NPA opposed Nkosi’s release on bail, resulting in him remaining in custody until the conclusion of the case. During the trial, Nkosi pleaded not guilty to the charge. However, State Prosecutor Simon Mamabolo presented compelling evidence from both the victim and the eyewitness, supported by medical evidence confirming the seriousness of Mdlovu’s injuries.

The court subsequently found Nkosi guilty of attempted murder. In aggravation of sentence, the State argued that Nkosi posed a danger to society and emphasised that the offence was committed in broad daylight.

The prosecution further highlighted that Mdlovu was an innocent bystander who was simply conducting her daily business to earn a livelihood and support her household when she became the victim of the accused’s violent actions.

The court sentenced Nkosi to 15 years’ direct imprisonment and further declared him unfit to possess a firearm.

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Of the 24 suspects arrested, 12 were arrested for offences relating to illegal mining, while one suspect faces charges of assaulting police officers and resisting arrest.

A further 11 suspects, who were found to be undocumented illegal immigrants, are facing additional charges relating to illicit mining and possession of suspected gold-bearing material and equipment.

During the operations, police also discovered various items that had allegedly been abandoned at an illicit mining site. These included 27 pendukas, 147 steel balls, two water pumps, two cutting torches, two hammers, 10 head torches and one gas bottle. The recovered items were seized for further investigation.

The operations form part of SAPS ongoing efforts, together with relevant law enforcement stakeholders, to disrupt illicit mining activities and address criminal activities associated with illegal mining, including the exploitation of natural resources and possession of suspected gold-bearing material and equipment.

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Clement Njabulo Nhlabathi (23) was sentenced by the Elukwatini Regional Court was initially charged alongside his co-accused, Lwazi Panel Motha (22), Sakhile Siphamandla Nkosi (23), Nthatheng Hopewell Makhanya (22), and Nkosenhle Prince Masina (24). The co-accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting the State to successfully apply for a separation of trials.

The court heard that on 06 July 2023, Zwane went to Stars Local Tavern in Nhlazatshe 1, Elukwatini, to purchase alcohol. While at the tavern, he was spotted by a group of men. As he left the premises, the group followed him. Upon reaching a nearby bridge, they attacked him, produced a knife, and repeatedly stabbed him while demanding his bank card and PIN.

Zwane complied and handed over his bank card and PIN. When the accused realised that he was no longer breathing, they pushed his body into the river, where he drowned. The group then returned to the tavern and repeatedly used the deceased’s bank card to purchase alcohol until the transaction limit was reached, after which they discarded the card.

The deceased’s body was discovered the following day. Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused, and one of them pointed out the location where the deceased’s bank card had been discarded.

READ | Two linked to medical student’s murder arrested

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), during the trial, Nhlabathi pleaded guilty to the charges. In his plea explanation, he admitted that his conduct was unlawful and punishable by law. He was subsequently convicted of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

In mitigation of sentence, the defence submitted that the accused had pleaded guilty, demonstrated remorse, and had not wasted the court’s time. The defence requested the court to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment.

State Prosecutor Mxolisi Biyela argued that the guilty plea was not motivated by genuine remorse, but rather by the overwhelming evidence against the accused, including eyewitness testimony, a confession, and evidence obtained through the pointing-out conducted during the investigation. The State further submitted that the impact of the crime extended beyond the deceased’s family and had devastated the entire Elukwatini community.

READ MORE | Murder accused denies killing lover

The prosecution further emphasised that the deceased was a young, qualified medical doctor with a promising future and urged the court to impose the prescribed sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offences, protect society, and deter would-be offenders.

A Victim Impact Statement, compiled by the deceased’s sister with the assistance of Court Preparation Officer Nondumiso Thwala, was presented before the court.

In her statement, she explained that she and the deceased had lost both their parents and that he was her only remaining immediate family member. She described the profound emotional and financial hardship she has suffered following his death, stating that she had depended on him for financial support and that their shared dream of building a family home had been shattered. The criminal proceedings against the remaining co-accused were postponed to 29 September, 2026 in the same court.

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Mbuli pleaded guilty to the offence and was subsequently convicted of murder after the court heard that in March last year, the accused and the deceased were at the accused’s residence in Nhlazatshe when an argument erupted after the deceased’s cellphone rang. The accused insisted that she answer the call in his presence.

The argument escalated into a violent assault during which the accused repeatedly struck the deceased on the head and neck with a pick handle, causing fatal injuries.

“After realising that the deceased was no longer breathing, the accused cleaned the blood from the floor and moved her body to another room. He then went to a neighbour, confessed to what he had done, and subsequently handed himself over to the police,”reads a statement.

READ | Murder accused denies killing lover

During the trial, the accused pleaded guilty and expressed disappointment and embarrassment over his actions. Mbuli apologised to the deceased’s family and acknowledged that his conduct was wrong and punishable by law.

In mitigation of sentence, the defence submitted that the accused had demonstrated genuine remorse by pleading guilty, apologising to the deceased’s family, and voluntarily surrendering to the police. The defence therefore requested the court to impose a lenient sentence.

In aggravation of sentence, State Advocate Zilindile Phindiso urged the court to consider the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, as well as the widespread public concern over gender-based violence and domestic violence.

A photo album was also presented depicting the severe head and neck injuries sustained by the deceased, which was corroborated by the post-mortem report. A Victim Impact Statement compiled by the deceased’s mother and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Nomfundo Mokoena was presented to the court.

In her statement, the mother explained that the deceased had been the family’s primary breadwinner, earning more than other family members. She further stated that the deceased’s children had suffered immensely following their mother’s death and were forced to relocate from their maternal grandparents’ home to live with their father.

The accused was sentenced to 30 years’ direct imprisonment and was automatically declared unfit to possess a firearm.

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The conviction stems from an undercover operation conducted between 2018 and 2019 by the Hawks’ Nelspruit based Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and Crime Intelligence Surveillance Unit after information was received about the unlawful activities in the area.

The operation targeted law enforcement officials who were soliciting and accepting gratifications from motorists in the province.

READ | Eskom employees appear in court for corruption

In June 2023, Milla, who was attached to the Middelburg Flying Squad at the time, unlawfully solicited a gratification of R200 from an undercover agent posing as a motorist. He was subsequently arrested and charged with corruption.

Following the conclusion of the trial, the court found Milla guilty of corruption and sentenced him to five years’ direct imprisonment.

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This is following the deployment of more members from Crime Intelligence, Crime Detection, Tactical Response Team, K9 Unit, Public Order Policing and other Police units.

Information was received about an individual who was in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition in Marite. This led to a house where police found a male and female.

Police say during the search, two firearms were discovered, an automatic rifle and a pistol with serial numbers filed-off as well as live ammunition.

READ | WATCH: MEC Promises breakthrough after Mkhuhlu bloodbath

“The male suspect, who is the owner of the house was arrested and charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The firearms will be sent for ballistic tests to determine if they were not used in the commission of crimes while the suspect will be profiled to check if he is not linked to other crimes,” reads a police statement.

Meanwhile, police have opened a case of murder for investigation after a man was found allegedly killed inside the car in Marite on the same night. The victim was found with gunshot wounds.

ALSO READ | Suspects linked to Mpumalanga kidnapping arrested in Gauteng

The arrested suspect is expected to appear before the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.

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The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has arrested two suspects for the alleged possession of Crystal Meth following an intelligence-driven operation conducted in Ermelo on Sunday, July 19.

Reports reveal that at approximately 17:45, members of the Ermelo K9 Unit, working in collaboration with the Secunda Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) and the Secunda Serious Crime Investigation (SCI), acted on information received about a silver old-shape Mercedes-Benz sedan with two occupants travelling from Volksrust to Ermelo to collect drugs.

The information was operationalised along the N11 between Ermelo and Amersfoort. The identified vehicle was spotted travelling from Ermelo towards Amersfoort and was immediately stopped and searched.

READ | Prison warden found with drugs

During the search, members recovered a packet containing Crystal Meth weighing 310.20 grams with an estimated street value of R93 060.00 concealed inside the vehicle’s cubby box.

The suspects are expected to appear before the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of possession of drugs. The investigation remains ongoing.

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The arrest stems from information received through Crime Intelligence regarding criminal activities at the Lebombo Port of Entry. Intelligence indicated that criminal syndicates involved in vehicle theft, car hijackings, and vehicle insurance fraud were allegedly colluding with corrupt law enforcement officials to facilitate the illegal movement of stolen and fraudulently obtained vehicles from South Africa into Mozambique.

According to the investigation, corrupt officials allegedly received financial gratification, with payments depending on the type of vehicle being allowed to cross the border without interception or arrest.

An enquiry was subsequently registered. Authorisation was obtained to conduct a covert operation.
Members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) in Nelspruit, supported by Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS), Crime Intelligence, and Surveillance teams, successfully executed the operation.

READ | MERSETA Regional Manager arrested for corruption

During the operation, the suspect, who was on duty at the time, allegedly accepted a gratification payment from an undercover agent.

The suspect was arrested at the Lebombo Port of Entry and found in possession of the operational funds amounting to R80 000.00, which were recovered during the arrest. A case of corruption has been registered for further investigation.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Komatipoort Magistrate’s Court today.

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Sibusiso Dube (42) and Mandla Shongwe (54) were arrested by the Hawks’ Nelspruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation on Monday, June 1 following an investigation.

The HAWKS stated that the City Council had imposed a moratorium in 2023 prohibiting the sale of municipal properties.

Spokesperson, Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said the administration officer, who allegedly had in-depth knowledge of the municipality’s property sales processes, is accused of transferring a house valued at R540 000 to his uncle, a person living with a disability, without his consent. The property was later found to be under the control of the administration officer.

“He allegedly further benefited from the sale of another property valued at R442 000, which was sold to an unsuspecting police official. Investigations also revealed that a third property, valued at R520 000, was sold to a fellow employee who was allegedly aware of the moratorium,” said Col Nkosi.

READ | Six arrested for corruption and money laundering

The Hawks further uncovered evidence suggesting that the signature of the Municipal Manager was forged to facilitate the transactions.

Despite the alleged irregularities, the property sales reportedly followed all administrative processes and were successfully registered with the Deeds Office, resulting in title deeds being issued to the purchasers.

It is was further revealed that the proceeds from the transactions were used for the administration officer’s personal enrichment. The second employee was arrested for allegedly acting as an accomplice, having knowledge of the moratorium and the unlawful transactions.

The case was postponed to June 5, 2026.

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