23 and 28- year-old eSikhaleni murder suspects in court
His mother, Ntombifikile Phungula, said that her son was at home when he received a phone call from three of his friends at about 9am, asking him to join them at a tavern in KwaNdaye Reserve, but he never returned home
THREE suspects appeared in the eSikhaleni Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on murder charges.
Aged between 23 and 28, the three are accused of killing Mondli Phungula (33) of eSikhaleni Township on 25 January.
Mondli was reported missing after failing to return home for two days.
His mother, Ntombifikile Phungula, said that her son was at home when he received a phone call from three of his friends at about 9am, asking him to join them at a tavern in KwaNdaye Reserve, but he never returned home.
Mondli’s body was found in a shallow grave in the bushes at KwaNdaye, close to eSikhaleni beach, on Wednesday.
His hands and legs were tied. A police source said they reacted to information received, which led them to Gobandlovu where a suspect was found with the deceased’s car.
The car was found with new GP number plates.
‘It is alleged the three suspects had been drinking with Mondli during the day. Later in the day Mondli left his friends and went home.
‘They phoned him asking him to again join them. On his arrival they tied both his hands and legs before killing him and dumping his body in the boot,’ the source said.
‘The suspects apparently wanted his car to collect drugs in Empangeni, and after doing so they went back to eSikhaleni where they buried his body in the bush.’
Police spokesperson, Captain Thembinkosi Mkhumane, said the suspect who was found in possession of Mondli’s car confessed to the police that he and his two friends killed Mondli and buried his body.
The other two suspects who were found in possession of Mondli’s cellphone, car registration plates and other belongings, were arrested.
They were remanded in police custody until their next court appearance on Thursday.
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