DURBAN METRO POLICE OFFICER’S BAIL BID IN MURDER CASE POSTPONED
After his Legal Aid application was denied, Durban Metro police officer Sizwe Ngema (27), who is accused of killing his girlfriend, finally has a lawyer to continue with his bail application at the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
Ngema briefly appeared in court yesterday, facing charges of theft and premeditated murder after his girlfriend and fellow Durban Metro Constable Yolanda Khuzwayo (23) was stabbed to death last month.
According to preliminary police reports, the couple was drinking alcohol when Ngema allegedly stabbed Khuzwayo to death.
During his previous court appearance, the bail application was not able to move forward as there was confusion with regards to Ngema’s representation.
A lawyer was present in court; however, she said she was standing in for a colleague who couldn’t be in court on the day. After a short adjournment, it was established that Ngema was seeking representation from Legal Aid, a free legal service meant for the poor or unemployed.
Yesterday, after Legal Aid announced that Ngema’s application to be represented by them was denied, a private lawyer, advocate Ravi Reddy, was revealed as Ngema’s legal representative.
State prosecutor Calvin Govender said the state opposed bail and requested for a postponement for a formal bail application.
The matter was postponed to
April 29.
Speaking to members of the media outside court, the victim’s aunt Mpume Khuzwayo said the family’s hope was for justice, especially after all the delays in the case.
She said the family of the accused has not made any contact with them.
“We actually think it’s best if they don’t as we will never understand what our child did to their son to deserve death. There is nothing that they can say because he planned the death,” she said in tears.