Trial date set for Ndwedwe rape, murder accused
The man accused of raping and killing a 15-year-old Ndwedwe teenager will go on trial in the Durban High Court in August.
Lungile Cele disappeared while walking home alone after a school trip on October 4 two years ago.
Her naked body was found the following day in a garden near her home.
According to the indictment served on the accused, Zwelakhe Maphumulo raped Lungile before strangling her to death.
He then allegedly dragged her body and dumped it in a garden not far from her house.
Lungile's schoolmates who came in to show support for the Cele family, could be heard gasping in the public gallery as the details of their fellow pupil's possible final moments were read out in court.
State Prosecutor Sipho Mhlongo says 19 witnesses including police, doctors and family members are expected to take the stand.
Earlier, close to 100 learners from the Mashiyamahle High School perotested ahead of Maphumulo's appearance in the Ndwedwe Magistrate's Court.
15-year-old Lungile Cele was raped & killed on the 4th of October 2014 when walking home alone after a school trip pic.twitter.com/Ak46A63Q5f
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) May 6, 2016
Lungile Cele was a student at Mashiyamahle High School in Ndwedwe. She was in Gr. 9 when she was killed pic.twitter.com/cbTB8gP8Zs
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) May 6, 2016
Court papers show that Cele was walking home alone when the suspect approached her, raped & strangled her to death pic.twitter.com/nKtjDB5FVT
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) May 6, 2016
Close to 100 high school learners gathered at the Ndwedwe Mag. Court. Man accused of raping & killing due to appear pic.twitter.com/oY1pVq07WT
— Khatija Nxedlana (@its_KhaTija) May 6, 2016
(Photo: Khatija Nxedlana)