The man accused of murdering iKani actress Thandeka Mdeliswa is set to appear in court this week. According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s Monica Nyuswa, Siyabonga Mbatha will have his day in court later this week in connection with the death of the SABC 1 actress.
Three suspects were arrested in the murder case but only one is facing the murder charges and the rest were left to walk free on allegations of wrongful arrest.
Mbatha last appeared in Evander Magistrate Court in September and the matter was postponed to later that month were Mbatha was denied bail.
“The matter is on the roll on 10 December 2020. The investigation is ongoing and the matter will be transferred to the high court for further hearing,” said Nyuswa.
Mdeliswa died at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria after being moved from hospital to hospital.
She died in September and her family confirmed the death as an act of gender based violence.
““It is with great sorrow that we inform you of the passing of our dearest daughter. She was shot in Evander, Mpumalanga on Thursday, 3 September 2020.
“She was immediately rushed to Evander hospital, stabilised then airlifted to Witbank, after which she was transferred to Steve Biko Academic Hospital (Pretoria), as her condition was critical but stable. She passed on in the morning of the 5th September 2020 (Saturday).”
The family also confirmed that police in Evander were investigating the matter. At the time of her death Mdeliswa was featuring in a prominent role in a drama series on SABC1, iKani.
She was laid to rest in the weekend after her passing. The funeral was held under strict Covid regulations only a few friends and family were allowed to attend.
The topic of gender based violence has been a prominent one in South Africa as more than 200 cases are reported every day.
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