A 36-year-old man accused of killing a woman after meeting her on Facebook has abandoned his bail application after appearing at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

Helder Isidro from Eersterust is accused of killing 30-year-old Loveness Magabe and has been charged with murder and defeating the ends justice.

Lumka Mahanjana, the regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), revealed that the pair initially connected in a section of Facebook dedicated to sex work. Their interaction progressed to Whatsapp culminating in a meeting set for July 26, 2025, at a lodge in Eersterust

“On the said date, it’s alleged that the accused ordered an uber for the deceased to pick her up from her place of residence in Sunnyside and drop her off at their meeting place,” said Mahanjana.

However, as events unfolded, Magabe learned that their rendezvous would not take place at the agreed location but rather at Isidro’s home.

“Upon her arrival before the two met, the deceased sent a message to her friend and told her that the place where she was dropped off looked dodgy and she also sent her friend a pin location in case she went missing,” added Mahanjana.

When Magabe did not return home the following day, her friend wasted no time and filed a missing person case at the Sunnyside Police Station. An intensive police investigation swiftly unfolded, leading to the harrowing discovery of Magabe’s body buried in a shallow grave at Isidro’s residence on July 31, 2025.

Isidro was not apprehended until August 4, 2025, when police located him at his grandmother’s

Mahanjana also indicated that Isidro faces a separate rape charge from another case. He is scheduled back in court on October 15, 2025, in connection with both charges.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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