Man faces new child assault charge
AMAN in court for allegedly killing and kidnapping fiveyear-old Anovuyo Ndamase and dumping her body in a plastic bin bag has been charged with the sexual assault of his five-year-old relative in a separate matter.
Bongani Dlamini, 32, did not to apply for bail when he appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Before Dlamini was escorted from the holding cells, police court orderlies struggled to control a large group of Enkanini residents who shoved in a bid to get into the court.
Police had earlier requested that only Dlamini’s relatives, relatives of the victims and community leaders be allowed in the public gallery.
Anovuyo had been missing for four days when she was found stuffed in a plastic refuse bag on March 5. Dlamini faces murder and kidnapping charges in this case.
Anovuyo was reported missing and a massive search of the area followed and Dlamini’s home was torn down.
The court heard that blood samples collected from Dlamini’s shack had come from Anovuyo. State prosecutor Manelisi Macaba said a piece of chewing gum found on Anovuyo’s body had also been found to have Dlamini’s DNA.
DNA retrieved from a hammer found at Dlamini’s home had also come from Anovuyo. Macaba said the post-mortem showed that the cause of death was “due to assault by a blunt object on the head”.
Previously the State said Dlamini had contacted his girlfriend and told her he had killed the child. Macaba said cellphone records would indicate that Dlamini had indeed contacted his girlfriend.
“At this stage the accused does not have a physical address, as the shack where he stayed was destroyed,” Macaba said. The only outstanding reports were the results of the blood splatters found on a wall at the shack.
Once the matter was postponed, Dlamini was told to remain in the dock for the second case against him involving a five-year-old girl.
Macaba said a woman said she went looking for her daughter but when she went to Dlamini’s home, he denied seeing her. Later the mother reportedly found the girl at Dlamini’s house.
“The child said the accused gave her grapes to eat and touched her private parts,” Macaba said.
The State needed time to consult with the child and to obtain a statement from the girl’s father to complete their investigation.
Dlamini is expected back in court on May 27.