The man accused of murdering Sisipho Mayile of Zwelihle in January is due to make a formal bail application this week.
Mayile’s mother Bulelwa Tenge and stepfather Zukisa Fono along with councillors and members of the community filled the court on Tuesday 3 May to hear the outcome of Mzukiseni Mandoyi’s bail application. The bail application was, however, re-scheduled due to the fact that the accused’s attorney was unable to attend court.
Mandoyi is accused of murdering the 21-year-old matric pupil, who was last seen at the Zwelihle Taxi Rank on the evening of Sunday 16 January. Her body was discovered in bushes near Camphill in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on Friday 25 January.
Mayile’s senseless murder had the community up in arms, some going as far as to burn down the property of one of the two men taken in for questioning. The men were later released due to insufficient evidence linking them to the murder.
Mandoyi was arrested nearly three months after Mayile’s body was found. He had been out on bail for another murder at the time.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed Mandoyi faces another charge of murder relating to an incident on 2 December 2021 in Zwelihle. NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Mandoyi had been released on bail of R1 000 at the end of December.
“The latest murder case is a Schedule 6 matter,” he said. “In both cases other charges will be added as soon the investigations are done.”
Councillor Masibongwe Sihlahla, who attended the court appearance last week, says releasing the accused on bail would add to the community’s lack of confidence in the justice system.
“We live in a country where justice must be served on both sides,” he said.
“But the community is very angry, and we do not know what may happen should the suspect be released on bail.”
