A 32-year-old man appeared in the Hlanganani Regional Court on a case of murder which occurred on 18 May last year. Godfrey Munzhedzi-Nemushuri's case was postponed to 6 November for the accused to undergo mental observation.

Munzhedzi-Nemushuri is being accused of allegedly murdering a 20-year-old Grade12 learner, Mikateko Mathonsi, who was stabbed and killed on election day last year at Njakanjaka village near Bungeni. As reported in this paper last year (Limpopo Mirror, 27 May 2011), the two were seen quarreling in the street before the suspect allegedly stabbed Mathonsi in the chest. She later died at the Bungeni Health Centre.

It  appeared that the accused had apparently failed to cooperate with his legal representative, Adv Sikutshi. “He's been rude towards me all along when I told him to instruct me on issues of his bail application,” said Adv Sikutshi during the court appearance on Monday. The attorney explained that he had no other option but to recuse himself from representing Munzhedzi-Nemushuri.

Members of the Young Communist League (Mayibuye branch) and Congress of South African Students (Cosas) came in large numbers to protest against the possible release of the accused from police custody. “We will continue to show our unwavering support to the young woman's family,” said Bavi Shivuri, chairperson of the Young Communist League. “Mikateko was an inspirational force in the youth movement. We feel she should have been around and not dead.”

The accused complained to the court that he was suffering from asthma and a doctor had recommended that the jail cell environment was not helping his health status in any manner. “I've got medical proof here with me,” he said, clutching an asthma spray-pump in one hand.