Booi murder accused back in dock; will bid for bail
THE family of a brutally killed Mbekweni woman, allegedly by her boyfriend, said they were unable to transport her body to the Eastern Cape for burial as they were waiting on the state to complete DNA tests.
This after the dismembered and charred remains of Siphokazi Booi, 27, were discovered dumped at the train station on September 5, after she was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Sithobele Qebe, 30, on September 4.
Qebe made his second appearance at the Paarl Magistrate’s Court yesterday. His case was postponed until Friday, after his lawyer told the court that they had recently received an alternative residential address that they would use for him to apply for bail.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: “Qebe does not have a home, because his home (previous address) was allegedly burnt down by the community after Booi’s death.”
The lawyer would go to the new address to confirm whether he would be accepted by the community or not.
The accused had another case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after he allegedly beat up Booi last month, he said. He was due in court for that case on October 4.
“The State is going to combine the two cases and will oppose the accused’s bail application,” Ntabazalila told the community outside the court.
Mbekweni ward councillor Zukiswa Nomana said she would never allow Qebe to live in any of her areas, and would advise other ward councillors not to accept him, stating that he was a risk to the community.
Booi’s great grandfather, Peacock Booi, 78, said the family was still in shock and pleaded with the government to strengthen the justice system. Anti-GBV group Ilitha Labantu’s Siyabulela Monakali said they were deeply concerned with the rate and frequency of femicide in the country, particularly in the Western Cape, which appeared to be worse than the rest of the nation.