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Sugarcane case remanded
22/01/2008 15:55 - (SA)
Umzinto - The case against a 36-year-old man, accused of murdering eleven KwaZulu-Natal women and dumping their bodies in sugarcane fields, was remanded on Tuesday in the Umzinto Magistrate's Court for further investigation.
Magistrate Giel van Aarde postponed the case against Thozamile Taki and his accomplice Hlengiwe Nene until March 17.
State prosecutor Noxolo Tokwana said the State needed the "final remand" to complete investigations and that it would probably seek a provisional date at the Scottburgh High Court for the trial to be heard.
The small court was packed with relatives of the victims and when the two accused entered the court room, some abuse was shouted.
Nene had long braids, which she hung in front of her face to prevent photographers taking pictures, while Taki pulled a woollen beanie down over his face.
Taki is accused of being the mastermind in the case where it is alleged that he lured the eleven women to Umzinto with the promise of employment and then murdered them.
It is believed that he also raped them.
During Nene's unsuccessful bail application on November 27, the court heard that when some of the victims could not be convinced about the offer of employment in Umzinto, they would receive a call from a woman, who would tell them: "This is my brother. You've got nothing to fear".
Investigating officer Nico Crouse told the court that there was a strong possibility that Nene was that woman.
Police have so far only released the body of one person - 35 year-old Nombali Ngcobo from Inanda near Durban.
The first of the badly decomposed bodies was discovered early in September.
Police initially arrested five people - three women and two men - in connection with the sugarcane murders.
Two women have since been released and the charges against 28-year-old Zandisile Bhadla Somanikiniki were dropped during the hearing on October 10.
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