Court boosts security ahead of the appearance of Karabo's alleged killer

Security was tightened in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday ahead of the appearance of Sandile Mantsoe‚ alleged to have been behind the murder of Karabo Mokoena.

Every person entering the court had to register their particulars‚ including their ID numbers‚ and be given an arm band. Several police officers had earlier surveyed the court before allowing Karabo's relatives inside.

The Tactical Response Team manned the doors of the courtroom.

• WATCH: Women abusers should be pursued in the same way as ‘papgeld’ fathers: MbalulaPolice minister Fikile Mbalula has spoken out about how he watched his own sister being abused and warning the perpetrators that he would come after them. 

Mantsoe was expected to apply for bail.

During his first appearance earlier this month‚ chaos had erupted in court‚ with members of the Economic Freedom Fighters resisting being removed from the packed court.

With controlled access on Wednesday‚ the courtroom was less congested.

Mantsoe was arrested earlier this month after he allegedly confessed to burning Karabo's body in a ditch in Lyndhurst. Her charred remains had been found by police on April 29‚ a day after Karabo was reported missing by her family.

• I see the coffin but it's hard for me to believe it's you‚ says Karabo's sisterKarabo Mokoena’s sister‚ Bontle‚ on Friday gave an emotional farewell to her younger sister‚ Karabo. 

Her family‚ however‚ had continued to circulate her picture on social media for weeks after that‚ unaware that her remains had been found.

It remains unclear how Karabo was killed before she was set alight.

Karabo's mother‚ Lolo‚ and her sister‚ Bontle‚ were in court on Wednesday.

- TMG Digital/TimesLIVE