State to oppose bail for sangoma linked to Shalaba murder
The State says it will oppose bail for the second accused in the case of the murder of two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba.
Sangoma, Sebokoana Khounyana (50), appeared alongside Kutlwano’s mother, Keneuwe Shalaba (32), in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court, where they face charges related to the disappearance of the two-year-old in November last year.
A charge of premeditated murder was added against the mother, who was previously facing charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and making a false statement to the police.
Forensic tests are being done to determine the identity of the child’s body that was found in a shallow grave in Randfontein on Friday.
According to authorities, Khounyana pointed out the grave to the police.
It’s alleged that the child’s mother fed her poison when she couldn’t keep up with the lies that she had told about Kutlwano’s gender.
READ: Durban dad pleads for help to find epileptic son
“It is alleged that on 10 November 2024, the mother of the child took the child to the sangoma and requested him to kill her child because she was not happy with the gender of the baby and was tired of hiding it from her family, that in fact, the child was a girl,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.
“The mother then allegedly fed the baby poison, and after the baby died, it is alleged that the two took the child and buried her body in a shallow grave in Waterpan.”
Shalaba remains in custody after the court denied her release on bail.
“In court, the matter was postponed to 5 June 2025 for legal representation for the sangoma. The state intends to oppose his release on bail,” Mahanjana said.
Previously, the investigating officer told the court that the mother received R75,000 in her account on the day she reported her child missing last year.
Find us on social media
Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here
