The 26-year-old man accused of murdering two young girls that had gone missing at Ntsintsa in Dlangeni has been formally charged with murder and remanded into custody after appearing before the Mbabane Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Welcome Magagula of Ntsintsa appeared before Magistrate Chazile Thwala, where he faced two counts of murder.
According to the charge sheet, Magagula allegedly unlawfully and intentionally killed Siyanda Magagula on March 8 at Ntsintsa. On count two, it is alleged that on the same day he unlawfully and intentionally killed Landokuhle Magagula.
When informed of his constitutional right to legal representation, Magagula elected to conduct his own defence.
During proceedings, the Crown applied for an order compelling the accused to provide a blood specimen to assist with further investigations.
The application was granted by the court. The Crown also requested that the accused be remanded into custody until March 27, pending his committal to the High Court.
Magistrate Thwala granted the request and ordered that Magagula remains in custody.
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The two minors were reported missing over the weekend, prompting Lobamba police to appeal to members of the public for assistance in locating them.
Police investigations revealed that the girls went missing on Sunday at about 3pm after they were sent to fetch cattle from grazing lands in the mountains at Ntsintsa.
According to information gathered from relatives, the girls had been sent by their grandfather to look for cattle, but did not return home, prompting a search by family members, neighbours and the community.
A relative said the girls’ bodies were eventually discovered on Wednesday morning after police returned to the area with a suspect believed to be their uncle.
The relative alleged that during the search, the suspect avoided joining other family members and instead took separate routes while claiming that he had injured his leg and could not walk, which they said raised suspicions.
The relative said family members later confronted the suspect and questioned him about the disappearance of the girls.
According to the relative, police took the suspect in for questioning on Tuesday afternoon following growing suspicion from the family and community.
He said police returned to the area with the suspect on Wednesday morning where community members had already gathered to continue the search.
The relative further alleged that police questioned the suspect about the weapon used in the killing, after which he reportedly produced a four-pound hammer that was allegedly stained with blood.
Family members said the bodies of the two girls had visible injuries.
