Grandmother ‘unfairly blamed’ for child’s murder

THE GRANDMOTHER of Minentle Lekatla, whose body was found under a bridge in Strand, said her granddaughter’s rape and murder had dragged her name through the mud.

Thelma Bomela said Nomzamo community members believed she had a hand in it because her ex-boyfriend, Xolani Lantu, was arrested for the murder.

This was disclosed during her testimony on the second day of the trial at the Western Cape High Court.

“People said horrible things like I had a hand in her death because I was close to the accused. I trusted him. My life will never be the same again. Her death will affect me till I die,” she said.

Lantu is facing a charges of kidnapping, two rape charges and murder. Minentle, 5, went missing in Nomzamo, Strand, on June 3, last year. Her body was discovered the following day below a bridge over the Soet River.

Lantu on Monday pleaded guilty to all charges. He said he did it out of anger; however, his plea was rejected by the court.

Lantu said that after having an argument with Bomela he met Minentle, who informed him that her grandmother was seeing another man.

“I was upset and became very angry towards her grandmother, Thelma.

“I consumed alcohol that day which suddenly led to my inability to control my sexual desires towards Minentle,” he said in his plea.

He said he lured her and they walked to the bridge where he decided to undress her.

“I was scared Minentle would tell her family of what I had done to her. I knew she would tell her family and the local community members who would assault me and that’s when I decided to choke and kill her,” Lantu said.

Bomela disputed that there was an argument with Lantu that day.

Today the details surrounding her injuries will be divulged by a forensic pathologist who is due to testify.

The trial continues today.

HE SAID HE DID IT OUT OF ANGER; HOWEVER, HIS PLEA WAS REJECTED BY THE COURT