A man from the Levubu area, who had allegedly raped and then brutally stabbed a young woman to death, will remain in jail for his own safety. The woman´s private parts were also set alight after she was killed.

The 26-year-old accused, Brisco Davhana Mmdondeni, appeared in the district court in Louis Trichardt again on Wednesday (8th) on a charge of murder and rape, after a previous appearance on Friday, November 26.

On May 19 this year, Levubu police made a grisly discovery when they found the charred remains of Ndivhudzanyi Mavhungu (24) in the bushes along a deserted stretch of road, just outside of Levubu.

Mavhungu had been stabbed multiple times and her abdomen and private parts were badly burnt. Police suspected that this was done to destroy any DNA evidence left behind by the killer. Mmdondeni was apprehended the following day, after a witness, who had heard Mavhungu yelling at Mmdondeni, reported the matter to the police.

It was when police investigated the witness’s story that they discovered Mavhungu. When the police arrested Mmdondeni, they also found Mavhungu’s cellphone in his possession.

After Mmdondeni’s arrest, the Tshitanhudulu community of Levubu was up in arms about the murder of one of their young women. They requested the National Prossecuting Authority (NPA) not to release Mmdondeni on bail and also said that if he was to be released, they could not guarantee his safety. It was their oppionion that it would be better to keep Mmdondeni in jail for the duration of his trial.