Durban — A ballistics report, crime residue as well as a crime scene map were outstanding in the investigations of the double murders that a Hillcrest police officer was accused of.
Mlungisi Blessing Sikhakhane, who is charged with the murders of his longtime girlfriend, Sthembile Ngobese, and his girlfriend of fewer than five months, Enhle Majola, appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Thursday where he abandoned his bail application and his counsel withdrew.
State prosecutor Nomcebo Xulu asked for the matter to be adjourned for further investigation, indicating that the post-mortem reports and crime scene photographs had been filed.
Sikhakhane is alleged to have shot the two women in KwaNyuswa where he was renting.
Outside court, Majola’s father, Sandile Oscar Msomi said he had expected that Sikhakhane would abandon his bail application.
“The last time he was here in court, I had said there would be another delay tactic on his part. I said there would be something that would come out of the blue. His attorney left him in the dock, which is a clear indication that he, too, does not have any interest.”
He said all the family could do now was wait for the next court appearance in December.
“But it still looks like he is not getting any chance of getting out of jail because he is in there and he knows he is there for the right reasons.”
Msomi said he and the rest of the Majola family would be in court when Sikhakhane returned on December 14 – four days before his daughter’s 19th birthday.
“She completed her matric last year. We would be celebrating her birthday on the 18th. She would have carried on to go to university and would have ended up an employed young woman, but that’s all gone,” Msomi said.
Sthembile’s father, Isaac Ngobese said the family was still struggling to cope with the loss of his daughter, especially his wife and his daughter’s twin brother. He said the family understood that when Sikhakhane went back to court with his new attorney he could still apply for bail, adding that this was a concern to him.
“If that happens and he gets bail, I will be forced to roll up my sleeves and do what is wrong by taking the law into my own hands.
“I’m in pain, what has happened has caused the family pain, and thinking about him possibly getting bail will force me to think a certain way and think of what action to take.”
Earlier in court Sikhakhane’s defence counsel Minoj Harripersad withdrew his services, citing a conflict of interest between himself and his client.
There were no reasons provided for Sikhakhane’s instructions to abandon his bail application.
Daily News