A young father accused of killing his two-year-old daughter was denied bail on Tuesday after it was revealed that he had 20 previous criminal convictions – including murder when he was aged 12.
Ntuthuzelo Mayekiso‚ 24. appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday wearing a red leather jacket and blue jeans. He allegedly murdered the toddler while she was in his care.
According to police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana‚ Mayekiso's mother had rushed the toddler to Khayelitsha Day Hospital on May 7 after he had told her that the child was not breathing. Rwexana said: "The two-year-old had been in [the] father's care after the suspect requested time with [the] child as he had recently been released from prison.” The court gasped as state prosecutor Andrew Edem told the court that Mayekiso has 20 convictions to his name. This is apart from the two warrants of arrest out for him. Mayekiso was sentenced to reform school for a murder conviction when he was 12 years old. It is not clear how long he was at the reform school. Edem said that the State was opposing bail due to the severity of the crime and his previous convictions coupled with the arrest warrants out for him.
Edem added that "two witness statements are outstanding" for the state to complete their investigation.
Cracking his neck from side to side‚ Mayekiso seemed unfazed by the charges being read out. "Go to hell Mayekiso" a supporter of the family of the deceased toddler screamed in court. While he was appearing in court‚ his daughter was being buried.
During his first court appearance members of the public protested outside the court but on Tuesday people chose to rather pay their last respects to the little girl. A memorial service for her took place at the Noluthando School for the Deaf in Khayelitsha.
Mayekiso is expected back in court on July 28.
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