A 22-year-old Mpumalanga man who was out on bail for rape has appeared in court for the murder of his employer following an argument over R300.
Chris Mabaso appeared in the Nkomazi magistrate's court for the murder of Mhlobiso Sandrah Masango, 59, in in Schoemansdal, outside Malalane on Tuesday.
He will remain in custody until his next appearance on July 27.
Mabaso was arrested on Sunday in his hideout at Magogeni, near Eswatini border.
Police said the woman was found in a pool of blood in her house with her feet and hands tied with a gown rope on Saturday. They suspect she may have been killed on Friday.
“We received information that there was a woman killed near a tavern in Schoemansdal. She had visible wounds all over her body and head, which showed that a sharp object was used to inflict those wounds," police spokesperson Brig Leonard Hlathi said.
"On Sunday, a 22-year-old suspect was arrested after being linked to the crime. He admitted that he was working for the deceased and that they had an argument over money.”
He said the accused had a pending case of rape after he allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl in February.
Mfanuzile Masango told Sowetan that his aunt was a caring person who employed the accused to do work for her in the house because he was jobless.
“We are shocked as a family. This cuts deep to us. My aunt was a caring person. Her caring heart led to her death. Mabaso said they fought over money. It was R300 which he would get as always. But he decided to kill her. That boy is cruel,” Masango said.
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