Sangoma and mother Face murder Charges in Toddler’s Death
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A conventional healer from Lesotho and a South African mother are facing murder charges in connection with the death of a two-year-old boy, allegedly killed as the mother was unhappy with the child’s gender.
A Lesotho-born sangoma, or traditional healer, made a brief court appearance on Thursday, accused of assisting a mother in the murder of her two-year-old son.
Sebokoana Khounyana, a 50-year-old Lesotho national, had previously indicated to the court his intention to plead guilty. However, his legal representatives now attribute his earlier courtroom statement to a lack of adequate legal counsel at the time.
READ: Justice for Kutlwano | Mother faces premeditated murder charge
Reportedly,the sangoma led police to the shallow grave where Kutlwano Shalaba’s body was buried. The child’s mother is accused of selling him to the sangoma for R75 000.
Prosecutors claim that Keneilwe Shalaba sought out the sangoma to kill her child because she was allegedly dissatisfied with the baby’s gender.
The case has deeply affected the Vanderbijlpark community where the mother resided.
Khounyana is scheduled to return to court on June 25, at which time his application for bail will be considered. both he and Shalaba will remain in custody until the hearing.
Prosecutors allege that Keneilwe shalaba turned to the sangoma to kill her child because she was unhappy with the baby’s gender.
