We will support, not condemn, him: Zinde family

17 June 2016 - 08:27 By SIPHO MASOMBUKA

The family of broadcast media personality Hope Zinde cannot understand how the son she lived for ended up charged with her murder. The former SABC board member was found dead in the boot of her car at Pecanwood Estate in Hartbeespoort last weekend.Her son, Mark Warona Zinde, 23, will appear in the Brits Magistrate's Court again today on charges of murder and possession of drugs. On Monday the court ordered an inquiry into whether the Varsity College BCom student was mentally fit to stand trial.Zinde's uncle, Jackson Letshufi, said after her memorial service yesterday that Mark was "not himself" when he saw him on Monday.He said the family was battling to understand how he managed to allegedly kill his mother and carry her body to the car on his own."We are not suggesting anything but we are puzzled how he could have done this alone. The only logical explanation is that he was not by himself," Letshufi said.He said Mark needed all the family support he could get, adding that a lawyer had been hired to represent him."We have to admit that this happened and support instead of condemn him. He is still one of us; only the court can reach a conclusion," Letshufi said.Public Service and Administration Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi told the memorial service, in Mamelodi, Pretoria, that the tragedy of the Zinde family was more devastating because of the son's alleged involvement.Zinde will be buried at Pretoria East Cemetery on Tuesday...

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