The murder case involving four young men accused of killing Glen Nkuna (38) was postponed in the Waterval Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 27 May. Nkuna’s body was found next to the gate of Elim Hospital at about 03:00 on Sunday, 8 March.
The accused — Silence Madima (22), Pfano Mukwevho (19), Rofhiwa Tshisema (19) and Clifford Munungufhala (19) — appeared briefly before a packed courtroom. The matter was postponed to 22 July for further investigation. During an earlier court appearance in April, all four abandoned their bail applications.
On Tuesday, the same court heard that bail applications had also been abandoned by two accused in a separate Elim murder case involving the killing of Tivani Maluleke (41). The accused are Wanga Fakantsimbi and Dakalo Raliwedzha, both aged 20.
Maluleke’s body was found on Saturday, 7 February, in Mahonisi village near Elim. The pair will appear in court again on 21 July. A third accused, a 17-year-old, is being held at a juvenile facility. His mother, Portia Mukondeleli Sithagu (49), who faces a charge of defeating the ends of justice, also appeared in court.
In the Nkuna case, the court heard that the mother of one of the accused minors intends proceeding with a fresh bail application after previously withdrawing it. She is expected to appear in court on 4 June for the formal application and told the court she would stay with her sister in Nzhelele if granted bail.
Another accused, Lufuno Khomola, did not appear in court on Wednesday, with no reason given for his absence. He is expected back in court on 4 June.
Khomola is also linked to a separate Elim murder case in which Dumisani Mabobo (21) was allegedly stabbed and robbed of his laptop near Hubyeni Shopping Complex in June 2024. His body was later found behind a local grocery store, sparking outrage in the community.
Khomola was initially arrested but later released after police cited insufficient evidence. He was re-arrested on 10 April following a community shutdown and a march to Waterval Police Station demanding stronger action against violent crime.