THE man accused of the brutal murder of eight-year-old Tifezile Gwebu made his first court appearance yesterday before Senior Magistrate Jabulani Maphalala in Nhlangano.
Michael Hlatshwako aged 30 from Tibondzeni under Sandleni Inkhundla, appeared stoic and pensive, his short afro neatly pushed back.
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When called to the dock to have the charges read to him, Hlatshwako seemed as though he was unaware where he was. This prompted Magistrate Maphalala to ask him if all was well. “Are you okay Hlatshwako?” asked Magistrate Maphalala, but the accused did not respond but only looked up on the roof, motionless.
When his legal rights were explained to him, he told the court that he intended to conduct his own defence. The Crown represented by Sibusiso Gamedze applied to have the accused remanded into custody until December 24 for his second remand hearing pending his committal to the High Court.
Highly-placed sources have revealed chilling details surrounding the murder of Tifezile, allegedly at the hands of Hlatshwako. Following his arrest on Tuesday, investigators were led to remote caves where the suspect is believed to have committed the crime and concealed stolen items.
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According to sources, Hlatshwako allegedly abducted the child and took her to one of the caves near Tibondzeni where he reportedly raped her and later killed her. After the murder, he is said to have mutilated the body and transported the remains to his homestead, where the head was placed on a table and the body hung from a nearby tree.
Hlatshwako allegedly confessed to consuming parts of the victim’s body, claiming he was starving while living in the caves. “He showed officers where the assault and killing took place. When asked about the missing body parts, he stated that he had eaten them,” the source claimed.
It is said the police, unable to locate any remains of the internal organs, reportedly concluded that the suspect’s claims were credible. The caves used as hideouts, one near his home at Tibondzeni and another approximately 20 kilometres away in Nkhungwini, contained various stolen items, including clothing and household goods linked to multiple break-ins.
“He told police he survived by stealing livestock, including goats and chickens, which he consumed while in hiding,” the source alleged.
The police continued to investigate the full extent of Hlatshwako’s actions during his time on the run.
Deputy Chief PICO Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni when reached for comments on the allegations that Hlatshwako consumed some body parts of Tifezile and the rape, she said police were continuing with their investigations, thus could not comment on such claims.
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