Family of slain Umgababa caregivers pleading with court to deny bail
The family of one of two caregivers murdered in Umgababa, south of Durban, is pleading with a magistrate to deny their alleged killer bail.
Thokozani Mhlongo first appeared in the Umbumbulu Magistrate's Court last week.
The security guard is accused of murdering Doris Mbuso [61] and Monica Xulu [81], whose bodies were discovered in a shallow grave outside the eThembeni crèche they worked at.
They were last seen getting into an e-hailing taxi before Women's Day.
Mbuso and Xulu were laid to rest during separate funeral services on Saturday.
Dawn Gounden of Renegades Search & Rescue is the spokesperson for the Mbuso family.
"The family is very traumatised and is appealing to the court to not grant the suspect bail. We do understand that they have the right to bail but due to him being the key witness in this case prior, and not the suspect it changes the dynamics of the case itself."
READ: Guard arrested for murder of two elderly Umgababa women
Gounden says Mhlongo came clean in court after lying to the police about the women's whereabouts during the search for them.
"At that time he had no remorse knowing that there were searches documented but upon his first briefing in court, he decided to change that, and suddenly become emotional and caring. He never realised the repercussions he is going to cause."
