The 24-year-old suspect in the attempted ritual murder case of the 8-year-old Fortune Khumalo, looked like a total stranger during his appearance at the Malamulele Magistrate’s Court last week.

Lucky Simango looked like a completely different person from what he was during his previous appearance, when he spoke at will. During his last appearance, Simango caused a stir when, out of the blue, he made startling claims that he had been sent by his paternal father to go and commit the heinous crime. Simango made an appeal to the court for a speedy trial as he was going to plead guilty to the charges. He also made claims of sexual abuse to the court, saying that he had complained to authorities but could not get help.

Simango, who is believed to be the youngest human parts merchant in Limpopo, is alleged to have mercilessly sliced off the private parts of Fortune Khumalo of Jilongo outside Malamulele in August this year. Simango was not represented and his case was postponed to January 31, next year, pending further investigations. He will spend the festive season behind bars, as he was not granted bail.

Meanwhile, Fortune is making steady progress after going for check up at the George Mukhari hospital in Tswane early last month and he is scheduled to attend another one in March 2008.

Fortune, who has been described as very bright, successfully completed Grade 3 and will be doing Grade 4 next year.

The principal of the school, Mr Risimati Hlungwani, said he was excited by the progress the boy made with his studies, but was worried about his health, which will require a large amount of money to be restored. He said steady progress has been made with the Fortune Khumalo Family Fund, as people are now pledging support to the family. He made an appeal to all caring and loving South Africans to open their hearts and help the indigent family.