He ‘killed’ stepmom over witchcraft

A businessman from Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape who allegedly ran amok and fatally stabbed two women in his family – whom he accused of witchcraft – appeared in the Ngcobo Magistrate’s Court on two charges of murder.

Bongani Sondlo, 42, a tavern owner from Lurhasini village on the outskirts of Ngcobo, cut a lonely figure when he appeared before a packed gallery yesterday.

Among the crowd were children and relatives of the two women he allegedly killed on July 2 in front of their grandchildren.

He stood still in the dock and did not plead.

According to a charge sheet, he is accused of murdering his stepmother Nowezile Mbulali, 78, and his aunt Noluthando Sondlo, 59, at Moltina and Bulawayo villages.

He had accused them of bewitching him after he was involved in a car crash that left him with minor injuries and his daughter severely injured.

After Sondlo had allegedly attacked and killed his aunt Noluthando at Moltina, he proceeded to Bulawayo village where he allegedly stabbed his stepmother who managed to flee from him.

She however collapsed and died in a nearby veld.

Bongani later fled the area and remained a fugitive in neighbouring Cala village hiding at his sister’s home in the area until he was arrested.

Both murdered women lived with their grandchildren. Noluthando was allegedly killed in front of her grandchildren aged nine and seven.

Mbulali, whose husband died last year, was home alone when she was attacked.

Yesterday, Sondlo did not plead and opted to hire a private lawyer to represent him.

The case was postponed to Monday for a formal bail application.