Body parts 'cemented' into salon

2007-08-30 13:37

Johannesburg - A sangoma and hairdresser accused of brutally killing four-year-old Connie Ncube to use her body parts for muti will appear in the Pretoria High Court on charges of murder, kidnapping and violating a corpse.

A witness said the body parts had been cemented into a hair salon to ensure a successful business.

However, although the Director of Public Prosecutions earlier this month ordered that Mandla Ephraim Zulu, 46, and Lourenco Eric Ngoveni, 30, should stand trial, a date has been determined yet.

Appearing in the Pretoria district court on Thursday, state prosecutor Adam Mputla said the DPP wanted an identity parade to be conducted before making further decisions.

Objects found

But as neither the two defence lawyers were present, nor the docket, he had no idea whether the identity parade had been held or what the DPP has decided.

He therefore requested a remand until September 6 for this purpose.

Zulu and Ngoveni were arrested in December 2006 after a witness revealed that they were seen closing a deal over a suitcase with "fresh" body parts.

This was after Connie's body had already been found in February that year, floating in a stream with several body parts, including her eyelids and little finger, cut off.

She went missing after her mother sent her to neighbours to borrow a cellphone charger.

The unidentified witness claimed that Ngoveni cemented the body parts into the hair salon.

Police demolished the salon and found wrapped objects between the bricks.

This was sent for forensic testing.

The court denied the accused bail in March this year, saying it was for the safety of the witness and the accused.

- SAPA