The murder case against Mduduzi Mnisi who is linked to the brutal murder of 14-year-old Likhona Fose has been postponed to June 24.

Mnisi appeared briefly before the Roodepoort Magistrates Court with the court announcing that the matter will be moved to a different court when he appears next Tuesday.

He was expected to apply for his bail which the state had indicated that it was going to oppose due the sensitivity of the matter.

Speaking outside court, National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane indicated that the State is doing its best to ensure Mnisi is not released on bail.

“We have done all the groundwork as the State, including the profiling of the accused. That process has been concluded hence we say as the State, we are ready to proceed. We have consulted with the Investigating Officer and he has concluded his affidavit that will be presented by the State during the bail application stage,” she stated.

Mnisi is charged with the premeditated murder of the 14-year-old whose lifeless and mutilated body was found in an open veld in Braamfischerville Phase 4, Roodepoort, Johannesburg after she went missing with a group of friends the day before. It is reported that Fose’s concerned family opened a missing persons case when she did not return home.

On the possibility of there being further arrests, Mjonondwane indicated that this will depend on the investigations which are still ongoing.

“The possibility of further arrests will be guided by the investigations. We are still at the very early stages of the case. Investigations are ongoing and as the NPA, we follow the evidence,” she added

On Sunday a search for the body of the Grade 8 learner Ikusasalethu Secondary School’s body resulted in the gruesome discovery of her violated body in an open veld not far from her home. 

Mnisi, charged with the premeditated murder of a 14-year-old girl in Roodepoort, will appear in court for a bail application.

Likhona Fose’s half-naked, mutilated body was found in an open veld in May, not far from her home in Durban Deep, a day after she was reported missing. During proceedings last week, the court granted a postponement to allow the State to conclude its investigations in respect to the bail application the accused wants to bring to court.

During his previous appearance last week, the court granted a postponement to allow the State to conclude its investigations in respect to the bail application Mnisi wanted to bring to court.  Mjonondwane indicated that the State would oppose Mnisi’s bail application, as he had previous convictions of robbery and attempted murder.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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