KZN man linked to rape, murder of 7-year-old girl abandons bail application

DURBAN - The man linked to the disappearance, rape and killing of a seven-year-old girl last week has abandoned his bail application.

The accused returned to the Empangeni Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He faces charges of kidnapping, rape and murder. 

Police said the accused is known to the family, and that he told the family where to find the body hours after the incident.

Zanokuhle Khumalo’s body was found under a bed at a neighbour’s house last week.

Police said the accused confessed to her family that he had kidnapped her and killed her.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said he has opted not to apply for bail. 

NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson Kara: “The matter was previously remanded for bail verification and investigations, however in court today [Wednesday] the accused abandoned his intent to apply for bail.”

At the same time, officers are still waiting for postmortem results to determine the child's cause of death.

The matter be back in court in September.