Matricide accused abandons bail bid

A young man accused of killing his mother has abandoned his application for bail.

Azasiphe Ndzule, 21, appeared in the East London magistrate’s court on Wednesday, where his bail application was to be heard. But when the state revealed it was ready to proceed, he said he was abandoning his request for bail.

Bail magistrate Linda Magaxeni then transferred the matter to A Court where the case was postponed to April 16.

Ndzule was arrested after his 43-year-old mother was found murdered at their in Mooiplaas home outside East London last month.

The woman’s body was found with stab wounds.

Dozens of neighbours and relatives protested outside court to oppose bail.

Local ANC Youth League secretary Monwabise Njanya said: “The community came out to support the family because we suspect crimes of this nature are drug-related. It is good that he chose to abandon his bail when he was the one wanting to be released on bail in the first appearance.”

He said the incident had heightened concerns about drug use in the village.

“This is the third case of [someone accused of] killing their own parent in the past few years from our village. We are quite concerned about this.”

This is the second case in court in the province this week of a youth accused of killing a family member.

On Monday, a 13-year-old appeared in the Zwelitsha magistrate’s court accused of the murder of his aunt, who was found burnt beyond recognition. The minor was released into the custody of his mother.