Latest news with #Khounyana
The Citizen
26-06-2025
- The Citizen
Lesotho sangoma abandons bail in Kutlwano Shalaba murder case
The Sangoma is Khounyana is facing charges of premeditated murder, Human trafficking of a 2-year-old baby. A 50-year-old undocumented Lesotho national and sangoma facing a slew of charges has abandoned his bail bid. Sangoma, Sebokoana Khounyana, appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. Khounyana is facing charges of premeditated murder, human trafficking of a 2-year-old baby, Kutlwano Shalaba and being illegal in the country. Charges His co-accused, the mother of the child, 32-year-old Kuneuwe Portia Shalaba, is facing charges of premeditated murder, human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery and making a false statement to the police. It is alleged that on 10 November 2024, Shalaba's mother, Keneuwe, took the two-year-old to Khounyane and requested him to kill her child because she was not happy with the child's gender and was tired of hiding it from her family that the child was a girl. ALSO READ: Gauteng health officials raise alarm over baby abductions Investigations revealed the mother allegedly received R75 000 in her bank account on the day the child was reported missing. Baby poisoned National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the mother then allegedly fed the baby poison. 'After the baby died, it is alleged that the two took the child and buried her body in a shallow grave in Waterpan. 'After investigations by the police, the sangoma was arrested on 29 May 2025, and he subsequently made a confession and pointed out to the police where the body of the child was buried,' Mahanjana said Court After the brief appearance in court, the matter was postponed to 6 August 2025, for further investigation. The court previously denied the mother's release on bail. Missing child Meanwhile, a Gauteng family is pleading for the safe return of their 8-year-old daughter. Omphile Sebiloane, a Grade 2C pupil from Shalimar Ridge Primary School, was allegedly kidnapped from her home in Ratanda, Heidelberg, this week. According to the family, Omphile was last seen wearing a pink tracksuit, a maroon top and a black jacket with pyjamas underneath. Omphile's alleged kidnapping comes after the brutal murder of teenager Lukhona Fose. The 14-year-old Fose, a grade 8 pupil at Ikusasalethu Secondary School in Braamfischerville, was found dead with her body mutilated in an empty field on Sunday, 1 June 2025. ALSO READ: Gauteng family pleads for safe return of their little daughter
The South African
02-06-2025
- The South African
2-Year-old killed and buried: mother and sangoma charged
A sangoma and the mother of a two-year-old girl face charges of premeditated murder after the child was poisoned and buried in a shallow grave. Sebokoana Khounyana (50), a Lesotho national, appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates' Court on Monday, 2 June 2025. He is charged with murder and human trafficking. According to the NPA, the child's mother, Kuneuwe Portia Shalaba (32), was already facing charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and lying to police. The State has now added a murder charge. Police say Shalaba took her daughter, Kutlwano Shalaba, to Khounyana on 10 November 2024. She allegedly told him she didn't want the child because she was a girl and claimed she had been hiding the truth from her family. Shalaba allegedly fed the child poison. After the baby died, the pair buried her near Waterpan, Gauteng. Police arrested Khounyana on 29 May 2025. He allegedly confessed and led officers to the gravesite. The court postponed the case to 5 June 2025. The State will oppose bail. Police arrested a 52-year-old man for allegedly shooting and killing his 18-year-old stepson, Leewin Solomon, during a domestic altercation in Rosedale, Kariega, on Sunday night, 25 May 2025. The shooting happened at around 21:28 at a house in Parkiet Street. According to police, Solomon stabbed his stepfather in the shoulder during an argument. The man then drew a firearm and shot the teenager. Paramedics transported Solomon to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police recovered a 9mm Glock pistol at the scene and sent it for ballistic testing. They charged the stepfather with murder. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
