Family anger after Nothando Malu’s murder case is withdrawn for reinvestigation

THE family of slain Durban University of Technology student, Nothando Malu has criticised court officials for withdrawing a case against the suspect who was accused of killing their daughter in November 2017.

Malu’s naked body was found by farmworkers in the early morning, dumped near a sugar cane plantation on the outskirts of Empangeni.

Sikhumbuzo Mthimkhulu of eSikhaleni was arrested and linked to the case after police had tracked down Malu’s cellphone.

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Mthimkhulu was freed last month at the Empangeni District Court owing to insufficient evidence.

The deceased’s mother, Nokuthula Duma of Zidedele Village, said her family was ‘very disappointed’ about the court decision to set the suspect free, without giving him a chance to respond to the allegation labelled against him.

‘Justice was not done in this case, because I am still convinced that Mthimkhulu was responsible for the death of my daughter. During his bail application, the cell phone expert made it clear that Mthimkhulu was in possession of my daughter’s cell phone during the day of her disappearance,’ she said.

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‘As a family we need justice for my daughter. The court denied him bail because it was convinced he had some questions to answer during the trial, but I was surprised when the court said he is free and ordered the police to re-investigate the matter,’ said Duma.

According to a police source the accused was released after the KZN Director of Public Prosecutions instructed Empangeni Magistrate’s Court to release Mthimkhulu and ordered the police to conduct a thorough investigation around the matter.

KZN Provincial National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said they are looking into the matter.

ALSO READ: Student’s murder suspect’s bail hearing postponed

‘This is a serious matter and the Chief Prosecutor from Empangeni has to send a report to the office of the DPP. We can only give a full response after we have received information of what transpired,’ she said.

King Cetshwayo Police Cluster spokesperson, Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose, confirmed Mthimkhulu was released owing to insufficient evidence.

‘We are still working on this case and if we acquire more evidence we will reinstate the case,’ he said.

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