Share

Uyinene Mrwetyana's body was hidden in Post Office safe overnight, says State

Luyanda Botha, after murdering Uyinene Mrwetyana, left her body overnight in the safe of the Clareinch Post Office, collecting it the next day and setting it alight.

This is according to the summary of facts accompanying the indictment handed up in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Thursday, where the case against the former post office employee was transferred to the Western Cape High Court.

According to the State, on August 8, Mrwetyana had enquired about the delivery of clothes she had ordered online. Botha had allegedly assisted her. He said her parcel was not ready and that he would contact her when it arrived.

They exchanged contact details. Mrwetyana's delivery arrived on August 16.

The State charges that Mrwetyana arrived at the post office on August 24 after it had been closed for business. Botha had been there alone and let her in.

She was never seen again.

The prosecution believes that he raped her twice and then killed her. She succumbed to a head injury.

Body hidden in safe

Botha is accused of hiding Mrwetyana's body inside the safe of the post office and returning the next day to remove it and transport it in his car to a field in Lingelethu West, where he dumped the body and set it alight.

Her remains were found by police on routine patrol in the early hours of Monday, August 26.

Botha was arrested four days later.

He had made a statement, understood to be a confession, to the police and had also made a "pointing out", detailing where the crimes had taken place, it is alleged.

In addition to setting her body alight, the State charges that Botha had his car cleaned to destroy forensic evidence, thereby obstructing the administration of justice.

Botha, 42, faces charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice, as well as two counts of rape.

He will attend his first pre-trial conference in the High Court on November 15.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed. 
Subscribe to News24
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Many companies are asking employees to return to office full time after years of remote/hybrid settings. What are your thoughts?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
I can't wait to be back!
17% - 885 votes
No thanks, remote work is the future
24% - 1204 votes
Hybrid is the best option to keep everyone happy
59% - 3030 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
19.12
+0.5%
Rand - Pound
23.78
+0.3%
Rand - Euro
20.45
+0.4%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.72
+0.8%
Rand - Yen
0.14
+0.9%
Platinum
1,019.90
-1.9%
Palladium
1,391.45
-1.2%
Gold
1,942.93
-1.0%
Silver
23.47
-0.5%
Brent Crude
76.29
-0.6%
Top 40
71,833
+0.3%
All Share
77,126
+0.4%
Resource 10
70,231
+1.0%
Industrial 25
103,486
-0.4%
Financial 15
15,357
+1.4%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE