The bail application of the five accused in the Tshitavha and Folovhodwe grave-robbery cases took a dramatic turn on Tuesday when the mother of one of the accused pleaded with the court not to grant bail to her son and his co-accused.
Ms Nelly Nephawe of Folovhodwe, the mother of twins whose graves were dug up and their bones stolen last year, allegedly by her son Daniel, said it would be a sad day for her if they were to be released on bail.
Daniel Nephawe and his four co-accused stand accused of violating graves and corpses at Tshitavha and Folovhodwe. Nephawe became the main suspect when his former girlfriend spilled the beans and told the community of their nocturnal activities at the local cemetery where they dug up graves to steal body parts from corpses, which they later sold to a traditional healer.
After the shocking revelations, the police swiftly spun into action and dug up the first grave. Five graves have so far been dug up and in some, body parts were found to be missing.
Two traditional healers and two other suspects are currently applying for bail at the Makuya Periodical Court. The arrested traditional healers are Avhapfani Nemungadi from Mbilwi and Erick Kwinda of Tshikonelo, who is believed to be the buyer of the harvested human body parts from corpses.
The other suspects are Colbert Nemasisi (29) and Mathadzhila Munyai (20), who is a Grade 9 pupil at a local secondary school.
Daniel Nephawe (23), who is believed to be the mastermind behind the syndicate, was arrested during a swoop at a house allegedly belonging to traditional healer Erick Kwinda in the Western Cape.
During the bail application at the packed court on Tuesday, Nephawe's mother Nelly shocked those present when she pleaded with the court not to grant her son and his co-accused bail. "Daniel is my son and I love him so much that I am pleading with this court not to grant him bail as he would not be safe outside. I am also against the granting of bail to the others as the bones of my twins have not been found," she said.
She also testified that an exchange of an undisclosed amount from traditional healer Mapepe Kwinda had taken place as a form of an apology to the family for what had happened to the graves of their children. She also told the court that the money handed over at two different places was also meant to influence the family not to allow the police to dig up their graves.
Adv Patrick Matodzi, representing Daniel Nephawe, said he was hopeful that his client "will walk". He expressed confidence that the court would grant bail "as there is nothing against my client."
Magistrate Julia Singo presides over the case, while Ms Mashudu Nekhumbe prosecutes. The other accused are represented by Advocates Azwifaneli Agnes Ramanyimi, Ronald Radzhadzhi and Justice Mokansi.
The bail application was still continuing at the time of our going to press.