Undocumented Lesotho sangoma accused of murder abandons bail: Lawyer

JOHANNESBURG - The lawyer of a sangoma accused of human trafficking and the premeditated murder of a two-year-old child says his client abandoned bail because he is in the country illegally.

Gladmore Nyamanda says his client, Sebokoane Khoanyana, a Lesotho national, was warned that his chances of getting bail are slim because of his legal status.

He appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court on Wednesday alongside his co-accused, Keneilwe Shalaba, who is the mother of the murdered child.

She was arrested in November last year after being linked to the incident, while the sangoma was only arrested last month.

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They have both since been behind bars.

Shalaba was arrested when she was found to be involved in the disappearance of her child, after deceiving the police by reporting him kidnapped.

She reportedly received R75,000 in her bank account the day her child vanished.

In May this year, cellphone records linked her to Khoanyana, who pointed out that the child, Kutlwano Shalaba, was buried in Bekkersdal.

During his first court appearance, Khoanyana shouted that he is guilty, which could not be registered as it was not time for him to plead.

Shortly thereafter, he changed his statement and applied for bail.

In another turn of events on Wednesday, he changed his position once again, stating he wishes to abandon bail.

Said Nyamanda in court: "His passport expired in 2022, which made it a bit difficult for him to be granted bail if we are looking at the circumstances, and he doesn't own any property in South Africa, so he is illegal in the country."

Nyamanda says the 50-year-old sangoma has previous cases of assault and possession of dagga from the Free State.