Family takes on murder investigation

Members of a Cape Town family have become private detectives to nail an alleged serial killer.

Sinazo Ntlaka went missing more than two weeks ago but her bank card was allegedly found in the room of a security guard provisionally linked to the murder of six women near Century City early this month.

Ntlaka's cousin, Nokubonga Xhongo, said the 30-year-old guard has yet to tell police whether she is still alive. Xhongo said this forced the family to embark on their own investigation.

The man appeared in the Goodwood Magistrate's Court yesterday facing two charges: robbery and rape allegedly committed in February 2013.

The suspect cannot be named until he pleads to the charges.

When the case was postponed Xhongo and her family headed to the suspect's home in Gugulethu to find answers.

"The detectives told us that they found her bank card in this man's room. We are very anxious because they say this suspect is not revealing anything. We have been to various mortuaries, police stations and hospitals but we can't find her."

Xhongo said the family had accepted that Ntlaka might not be alive. But they want to give her "a decent burial". She said the suspect's family had been sympathetic and undertook to urge him to tell the truth.

• The family of Nothemba Ndondo, a 20-year-old cleaner whose body was found near Century City railway station on December 19, has urged the government to re-introduce the death penalty.

Her cousin, Phoebe Magida, said Ndondo's cleaner's uniform had been found in the suspect's room.

"Nothemba left two small children who will never know their mother's love."