Policeman charged with raping, killing daughter denied bail
2012-04-05 13:26
A police officer charged with raping, impregnating and murdering his 14-year-old daughter was denied bail in the Umlazi Magistrates Court.
Last month, the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) started investigating Warrant Officer Simo Mgobhozi (39) after it received reports that Mgobhozi had murdered his daughter, Nontobeko Zandile Mgobhozi in Umlazi Z section.
At the time, Mgobhozi was out on bail for the charge of allegedly raping and impregnating Nontobeko.
According to a statement released by the Independent Complaints Directorate days after his arrest for the murder, Mgobhozi went to a house in the Z section of Umlazi around 7pm on March 1.
Nontobeko and her mother, Zinhle Khuzwayo (37), were renting a room there.
Mgobhozi then locked himself, as well as both mother and daughter, inside the room. He took away the keys and then allegedly threatened to kill them. However, he was interrupted by his phone ringing.
Nontobeko, who was nine months pregnant, used a spare key to open the door. But as she tried to run away, Mgobhozi allegedly fired at her repeatedly, thereby killing her.
Mgobhozi’s attorney attempted to convince the court that Mgobhozi’s past conduct should not determine whether he is granted bail.
However, Magistrate GW Cele said the court had to consider these factors, which played an important role since it involved a person who was the complainant and now deceased.
The case has received a lot of support from politically based women’s organisations, namely the ANC Women’s League, the IFP Women’s Brigade and the SACP’s Provincial Gender Convenor since Mgobhozi made his first appearance at the Umlazi Magistrates Court on March 2.
“We are standing united as one voice because it is high time we stand together and forget our political, religious or socio-economic status,” said Molly Mngadi, IFP secretary of the Women’s Brigade in the province.
Nompumelelo Sithole, the secretary of the ANC’s Dorothy Nyembe Zone said too many cases come before the courts only to be withdrawn because of intimidation.
The case has been postponed to May 3.
- City Press
