A 24-year-old man who had allegedly stabbed and killed his ex-lover, Ms Rudzani Matshivha (18) at Ha-Mavhungu RDP, was denied bail last Wednesday when he appeared in the Regional Court at Dzanani.

Ndivhuwo Matamela had allegedly stabbed Ms Matshivha 37 times all over her body in April this year.

The case was postponed to 14 August and Matamela remains in custody. Three weeks ago, residents protested outside the court against Matamela's bail application. They handed a memorandum of concerns to Magistrate Andries Kellerman during the protest.

Residents demanded that Matamela should not be granted bail. They also threatened to take the law into their own hands if Matamela received bail.

They expressed their satisfaction with the fact that Matamela was refused bail. They said that he had stabbed a woman 37 times; therefore, he deserved to stay in jail for the next 37 years.

"He is very cruel and dangerous to the community. He deserves to spend all his life behind bars," said angry residents, who added that they wanted judgement in the case to send a strong message to other perpetrators who abuse and kill women.