Kaya News Reporter
The case against the 25-year old suspect arrested for the alleged murder of Nosicelo Mtebeni, the 23-year old Fort Hare student whose body was found chopped and stuffed in a suitcase has been postponed to 28 September.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani there is still evidence that needs to be collected, eyewitness statements as well as the suspect’s confession.
“At the moment we have witnesses, one witness said she saw him leaving with the bags which carried the body parts,” Ngcakani told media.
Police say they have a water-tight case against the suspect who is accused of brutally murdering the final year LLB student and then dismembering her body and dumped her remains in suitcases in Quigney in East London.
Also read: ‘Justice for Nosicelo trends’ after women’s chopped body found
Initial reports suggested that Nosicelo’s head, neck and hands were not found in the discarded suitcases that were found on the street corner near the residence she shared with the suspect. However, police confirmed they found more remains at the residence, including 2 suitcases with body parts.
Students held a night vigil for the latest victim of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country and joined activists to picket against the murder of one of their own.
Nosicelo’s family is said to be traumatised after learning about the gruesome manner in which she died.
Family spokesperson Teboho Mtebeni spoke to media over the weekend and said Nosicelo was a beacon of hope for her family.
“As the family of Nosicelo Mtebeni we are truly so hurt about that, we are truly so hurt about it. It’s an incident that is so cruel in the area of Quigney in East London. I cannot even express my feeling about it. We were looking forward that she is going to change the situation within the family but now it is not going to happen. Like that she is no more.”
The family have called on people to stop sharing the gruesome images of Nosicelo’s remains on social media as it is very disturbing to her loved ones who are grieving her loss.
“We are not happy about the social media in this country, we have just seen gruesome images on social media without being told what actually happened. We were hoping that the police will inform the family and the community in a decent manner but the images were just all over, we are not happy at all.”
Meanwhile, women on social media have joined the #NotInMyName South African civil rights movement against the ongoing GBV incidents in the country:
Every once in a while there’s a case that just hits you in the gut. I’ll never forget that Tshegofatso Pule was hung from a tree while pregnant.💔 #JusticeForNosicelo pic.twitter.com/hLjNTyfXdu
— Nate (@Nate_ls_za) August 20, 2021
What disturbs me the most is the fact that every now and then a woman is brutally killed and I always think “this has to be the worst killing of a woman we’ve seen as a country” but NO, a more gruesome murder is waiting to happen! 😭💔
We live in fear!#JusticeForNosicelo
— T U M I (@2meV) August 20, 2021
Situation right now #JusticeForNosicelo pic.twitter.com/j627VGarhV
— I am NEXT! (@MhagaNamhla) August 20, 2021
“We will not be silent!” Dr Rianna Oelofsen (UFH HOD of Psychology) leading a march against the brutal murder of a UFH student . Joining the march are members of Stand as One Against GBV and members from the Indegenous Resistance Organisation against GBV.#JusticeForNosicelo pic.twitter.com/dbxoFyvktS
— University_Fort Hare (@ufh1916) August 20, 2021



