The families of two of three children that were allegedly killed by a tavern owner in Orange Farm believe they would still be alive if police had properly investigated the first murder.
Tavern owner Pontsho Mohlanka is accused of killing Mzwandile Zitho, 5, in April 2020 and the double murders of Simphiwe Mgcina, 6, and Mpho Makondo, 8, in September 2020 – just five months apart.
Mzwandile was found dead in Mohlanka’s tavern.
According to the indictment, Mzwandile was found inside the locked tavern where nobody else had access and some items were tied to his body.
In the September incident, the half-naked body of a deceased (Simphiwe) was found in her yard in Extension 4 while another deceased (Mpho) was found in the street.
“The two bodies were lying about 100m in the same street. The deceased in count two (Simphiwe) was found with a handwritten note tied to his arm. According to the postmortem report, the cause of (Simphiwe's) death is uitgebreide hoofbesering met kontuise van die brein and letsels sterk ooreenstemmend met versmoring (extensive head injury to the brain strongly suggesting suffocation,” the indictment said.
“According to the postmortem report, the cause of death of the deceased in count three (Mpho) is oorhofse beeld ooreenstemmend met versmoring (taking everything in account would strongly suggesting suffocation).”
A toxicology report for Mzwandile is still outstanding.
After Mohlanka was arrested in April, she was released after charges of murder and being in SA illegally against her were withdrawn.
According to a police source, Mohlanka was released on September 13 and two days after her release, Simphiwe and Mpho were found dead.
The duo were last seen playing together before they were killed.
Their corpses showed no visible injuries and their faces were found smeared with a black substance.
Mohlanka appeared in the Palmridge court.... where the trial was postponed to Friday as there was no interpreter speaking Southern Sotho.
She pleaded not guilty on all charges on Monday.
Speaking to Sowetan after the case was postponed, the families of the children lambasted the slow wheels of justice.
Mzwandile's grandmother, Nompumelelo Zitho, said: “I don’t know why my grandson was killed in such a gruesome manner. Mohlanka’s tavern is three yards away from our house. This incident occurred two years ago but we still have many unanswered questions.”
Mpho's father, Moeketsi Malatjie, said his son would still be alive if “there were no cracks in the legal system”.
“This woman was found with a dead child [Mzwandile] in her fridge, but she was allowed to walk back in the community.
“Now more families are in pain because of her actions. The legal system has failed us,” said Malatjie.
“These are delaying tactics. The last time we came in court, she did not have a lawyer. At some point she even pretended to be sick in court.
“She is doing everything she can to drag this case. Nobody cares about the pain we feel every time we come to court and see her walking around freely,” said Simphiwe’s mother, Busisiwe Mgcina.
The families called for more arrests, saying the accused must have been assisted by other individuals when committing the crimes.
Sowetan visited Mohlanka's tavern and found it locked.
Neighbours told Sowetan that the business is still operating.
The state has lined up 55 witnesses.
nzimandeb@sowetan.co.za
