A Mpumalanga couple accused of attempting to sacrifice their three-year-old boy in a fire so they could be rich have been remanded in custody because their Legal Aid lawyer was not ready to formally apply for bail.
The two, Cedric Mkhonto, 29, and Nelly Jawuki, 25, were not asked to plead to charges of attempted murder when they appeared in the Matsulu periodical court on Thursday.
The couple’s legal representative from Legal Aid, Junior Nkambule, told the court that his team was not ready to go ahead with formal bail application.
"We are not ready for bail. We request that the state postpone the case to Thursday 12 November," Nkambule told the court.
Previously, Mpumalanga police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala told African Eye News Service that the couple was arrested on October 16 after being tracked down to a hideout in Tonga.
"The couple, who are sangomas, are accused of wanting to burn and kill their baby in Matsulu to perform a ritual that they believed would make him rich. They allegedly made a ring of fire... and tied the baby to a plank, using ropes. They placed him on top of the fire to sacrifice him and were sitting around the fire naked. A neighbour heard the baby crying and called for help from the community," said Mohlala.
The couple were on Thursday remanded in custody until November 12 to allow their legal representatives to prepare for bail application.
- African Eye News Service
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
